State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan on Sunday told Parliament that a total of 1981 people were sent to Saudi Arabia to perform the holy hajj at the government's cost since 2014.  He said this replying to a tabled question from Awami League lawmaker Didarul Alam after the day's sitting of the House started with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair in the afternoon. The state minister however said none was sent to hajj in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic. Also Read: Biman to use own aircraft for Hajj flights this year In 2014, the government started a programme to send a certain number of Muslims to Saudi Arabia for performing hajj at lowest package price, he said  Among 1918 who performed hajj at government cost, 125 people were sent in 2014, 268 in 2015, 283 in 2016, 334 in 2017, 340 in 2018, 314 in 2019 and 254 in 2022.    

Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh on Wednesday evening. “The Eid [Eid-ul-Fitr] will be celebrated on Friday as Shawwal moon was sighted nowhere in Bangladesh’s 64 districts,” said State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan. The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee on Wednesday after reviewing the information of Shawwal moon sighting. Also read: Celebrate Eid where you are: PM Hasina Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated amid a global pandemic like the previous year after a month of fasting. The Religious Affairs Ministry has urged devotees to offer the Eid prayer at their nearest mosques instead of Eidgah and open spaces, maintaining recommended health guidelines amid the Coronavirus pandemic.  It also suggested disinfecting mosques before the Eid prayer and not rolling out carpets on the floors. Also read: How to celebrate EID safely during COVID-19 pandemic The devotees have been asked to bring prayer mats from home. The devotees must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored earlier there. Children, elderly people, people with physical ailment, and those involved in taking care of the sick will not be allowed to attend the Eid prayer. Also read: Rain may dampen Eid celebrations Besides, the devotees were requested to shun handshaking and hugging after the prayer which has been a common practice during Eid throughout the world. The Religious Affairs Ministry urged imams and managing committees of mosques to ensure proper implementation of the directives. There will be five Eid jamaats (congregations) at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the day. Also read: 5 Eid jamaats to be held at National Mosque from 7am The first Eid jamaat will be held at 7 am while the next four will be administered at 8 am, 9am, 10am, and 10:45am respectively. However, amid the risk of virus infection thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate the very auspicious occasion with their near and dear ones at their respective village homes. Television channels and radio stations will telecast special programmes on the occasion of Eid.