Religious Affairs Ministry
Holy Ramadan begins tomorrow
Muslims in Bangladesh will start observing the holy month of Ramadan, the lunar month of self-purification through fasting and abstinence, from tomorrow, Wednesday.
The moon was sighted on Tuesday.
Lailatul Qadr, the night of divine blessing and benediction, will be observed on the night of May 9.
The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office.
Also read: 'No iftar gatherings, sehri in mosques during Ramadan'
Muslims are meant to fast from dawn to dusk during the lunar month, a time of restraint and austerity.
This year, maximum 20 people, including two imams, can attend Tarabi prayers in mosques.
The step was taken to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
Besides, no public gathering for iftar will be allowed.
Also read: Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan
On April 6, the Religious Affairs Ministry asked people to offer Zohr prayers at home instead of Jum’a on Friday considering the current situation of coronavirus.
This year, devotees have been directed not to arrange iftar gatherings and sehri in mosques during Ramadan to contain the recent surge in Covid-19 infections.
The Religious Affairs Ministry on April 5 issued new directives in this connection.
The government has rearranged the office timing for Ramadan from 9am to 3:30pm for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions.
Also read: Soaring veggie prices sour festive spirit for city residents
Meanwhile, residents of as many as 13 villages in Faridpur began the fasting month on Tuesday, in accordance with Saudi Arabia.
The residents of the villages under Shekhar and Rupapat unions in Boalmari upazilas began their dawn-to-sunset fast after having ‘Sehri’ in the early hours, said Mohammad Israfil Molla, chairman of Shekhar Union.
'No iftar gatherings, sehri in mosques during Ramadan'
The government has asked the Muslim devotees not to arrange iftar gatherings and sehri in mosques during Ramadan to contain the recent surge in Covid-19 infections.
The religious affairs ministry on Monday issued new directives in this connection.
The guidelines also include instructions on praying in congregations at mosques. "The devotees must come to mosques after performing their ablution and Sunnah prayers at home. If they do not do so, they must wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds while performing ablution at mosques," it read.
Also read: Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan
The ministry said the worshippers, who visit mosques to pray in congregation, must arrive there wearing masks.
Mosque management committees must ensure the availability of handwashing facilities – sanitisers and soap water – at the entrance.
They have also been asked not to use carpets and clean the mosques with disinfectants before the five daily prayers.
"The devotees must bring their prayer mats. Social distancing must be ensured while they stand for prayers" the ministry said. "Children, elderly, sick people and attendants to the ill must not attend congregations."
Also read: Wear masks at mosques: Islamic Foundation
Also, the ministry asked local administration, law enforcement, khatib, imam and mosque committees to ensure the implementation of the said directives.
Local administration and law enforcement will take legal steps if anyone violates the instructions, the ministry said.
In the wake of Covid-19 infections and fatalities, the government imposed a seven-day lockdown from Monday.
Also read: Public transport to be suspended from Monday: Quader
Most of the transport services would remain suspended while the office work would continue on a limited scale.
On March 28, the Saudi government announced that there would be no iftar gatherings or Aitekaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan.
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