The holy month of Ramadan began in the country today as the new moon was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh last evening.
The formalities of the Ramadan started with tarabih prayers and eating Sehri last night.
In the month of Ramadan, the Great Allah has revealed the Holy Quran. For this, this month is very important for the Muslim Ummah.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan on Wednesday evening made the announcement the beginning of the Ramadan month after holding a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee at the conference room of Islamic Foundation (IF) at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque here.
As per the decision, the holy Shab-e-Qadr or Lailatul Qadr, the night when the first verses of the holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), will be observed at the night of May 9 (Sunday night).
Muslims are meant to fast from dawn to dusk during the lunar month, a time of restraint and austerity.
Ramadan, also known as Ramzan, is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a time when Muslims around the world focus on prayers, fasting, giving to charity and religious devotion.
Fasting not only entails the elimination of food during the hours of sunlight, but also drinking (all beverages, including water), smoking, sex and “impure thoughts”, which can include violence, sexual thoughts and curse words.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion of Ramadan.
The President, in his message, called upon all offer prayers at homes during the month of Ramadan in accordance with proper health and safety rules.
About the pandemic, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said the coronavirus or COVID-19 has now become deadly worldwide, adding that infection of this virus is also increasing in Bangladesh like previous year. She urged all to perform prayers including Tarabi of Ramadan by maintaining social distance and following proper health rules.
The premier also advised all to stay at homes and offer prayers seeking peace and welfare of the nation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed that a maximum of 20 Muslims can take part in the congregational prayers(jamaat) at the mosque every time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The instruction will remain in force from today( April 14) until further instructions.
A notification signed by Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Religious Affairs Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday that a maximum of 20 Muslim-worshipers could take part in the five daily prayers at the mosque to ensure health safety amid the pandemic.
A maximum of 20 worshipers including Khatib, Imam, Hafez, Muazzin and Khadim will participate in Tarabi prayers in Ramadan.
Worshipers will take part in the Friday prayers or Jummah prayers following social distance and hygiene rules.
Due to the ongoing lockdown in the wake of the COVID-10 pandemic, it is expected that public gatherings and any kind of arrangements of iftaar on streets or outside would not take place.
