This year (2023), the minimum Fitra has been fixed at Tk 115 per person while the maximum is Tk 2,640. Fitra is an obligatory charity distributed to the poor at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Read more: Minimum Fitra fixed at Tk 75 per person The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Fitra Fixing Committee held on Sunday (April 02, 2023), chaired by the committee's head and Baitul Mukarram National Mosque’s Khatib Hafez Maulana Mufti Mohammad Ruhul Amin. The rate of Fitra is fixed on the basis of market prices of flour, dates, cheese, raisins and some other essentials. Fitra is paid to the poor before the jamaat (congregation) of Eid-ul-Fitr. Read More: Pakistani police arrest 8 after deadly Ramadan food stampede

For the first time in UK, West End district of London has been lit up with 30,000 lights to mark the holy month of Ramadan. Coventry Street, which links Leicester Square with Piccadilly, is illuminated with "Happy Ramadan”, BBC reports. London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, one of the 1.3 million Muslims in the capital of United Kingdom celebrating Ramadan, switched on the lights. The installation was created by Ayshea Desai, who was motivated by her love of Christmas lights, according to BBC. Read More: UNICEF launching first large-scale fundraising campaign in Bangladesh this Ramadan She said: "I just had the ambition to do it like the Christmas lights.” "I remembered going to visit the Christmas lights with my sister when I was growing up and I also had an opportunity to live in the Middle East and I wanted to bring that joy and magic to London, the city that I'm from," she told BBC. Desai began the project three years ago. "It looks incredible, I'm so overwhelmed with the response," she said. Read More: Muslim authorities say Ramadan fasting to begin Thursday "I wanted to raise that awareness as well to let our neighbours know that this is a really important month for us, it's my favourite month of the year and I'm just grateful that we're here today." According to BBC, a public Iftar will be organized at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, where a temporary mosque and Ramadan pavilion have been constructed for Muslims and non-Muslims. Meanwhile, Chelsea football club will also organize open Iftar at the side of the pitch at Stamford Bridge, in what will be a first for the club and a Premier League stadium. Wembley stadium will do the same later in the month, BBC reported. Read More: Ministry to sell meat, eggs at lower prices in Dhaka during Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan starts with the appearance of the new moon and brings blessings to Muslims worldwide. Greeting each other with Ramadanul Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem, Muslims welcome this month. Fasting begins with Sahur and ends with Iftar. As devoted Muslims fast for 29-30 days continuously, they need to take some preparations for Ramadan. Let’s find out some tips to prepare for Ramadan.  Ramadan's Meaning and significance Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is very promising and holy. The holy Quran is the supreme religious scripture for Muslims in Islam. Muslims believe this holy book is a revelation from Allah (God). According to the holy Quran, Fasting (Roza) during Ramadan is mandatory for each adult and healthy Muslim. According to Islam, fasting or Roza is the practice of abstaining from all kinds of foods, drinks, smoking, and sexual activity for some period. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting or Roza every day from dawn (before the Fazr prayer) to the Maghrib prayer time. And, the Muslim devotees will be rewarded by almighty Allah for enduring the pain of thirst and hunger during fasting. Read More: Ready for Ramadan? How to Prepare Your Body for Fasting? In Ramadan, besides fasting, Muslims offer prayers to Allah in Salat, read passages from the holy Quran, donate to charity, and maintain a good lifestyle.  10 Useful Tips to Prepare For Holy Ramadan  Finish All Pending Fasts If anyone has any pending fast which was missed in the previous Ramadan, she or he needs to complete that first. When someone is unable to complete the pending fastings due to some reasons like pregnancy, travel, sickness, etc., then it is imperative for that person to pay Fidyah as compensation for not fasting. Fidya or Fidyah system is a kind of donation that must be paid through feeding the poor for not making up fasts missed in the last Ramadan on time.  Create a Ramadan To-Do List As preparation for Ramadan, an individual can write down everything he or she needs to do for his or her own self or own family. The list can also include things he or she wishes to do for needy people. The checklist may include plans for donation, shopping, food processing, cleaning, etc. Read More: Ramadan 2023: Govt sets office timing from 9 am to 3:30 pm Processing of Raw Food Ingredients During cooking diverse kinds of ingredients are applied like onion paste, ginger paste, chili paste, etc. These raw ingredients can be preserved in the freezer for months. Preparations of these raw ingredients at home need time and effort. Making this preparation in advance can save an individual valuable time and energy during fasting hours.  Maintain Nutritious Diet During the holy month of Ramadan, devoted Muslims fast (Roza) from dawn to dusk. Fasting throughout the whole of Ramadan is a challenge for both mind and body. It is essential to maintain a well-balanced diet before and during Ramadan. Maintaining a balanced diet can help to keep blood sugar normal and supply energy. Consulting with a doctor or nutritionist, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, eggs, nuts, etc should be added to the regular diet to prepare the body for Ramadan fasting. Read More: Lessons of Ramadan: What does the holy month teach us? Donate Clothes and Goods Ramadan is the month when many devoted Muslims do charity which is a great way to help others. It would be nice to arrange clothes and other items for donation and start the holy month with a little act of kindness.

Juma’atul Wida, the last Friday congregation of Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan, was observed in the country with due religious fervour. Thousands of devotees poured into mosques across the country to offer Juma’a prayers and sought divine blessings for the peace and progress of Bangladesh and the unity of the Muslim Ummah. In the capital, many Muslims flocked to Baitul Mukarram National Mosque where usually the largest Juma’atul Wida congregation is held. Unlike other years, the devotees were supposed to join prayers maintaining social distancing and other health rules as the country grapples with the second wave of Coronavirus. In many cases, the health protocols were not followed.