Holy Ramadan begins

The holy month of Ramadan of 1447 Hijri begins in the country today as the new moon was sighted in the sky of Bangladesh on Wednesday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee at the conference room of Islamic Foundation (IF) at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque here this evening, Muhammad Nizam Uddin, deputy director Public Relations of IF, told BSS.

He said the moon was sighted in Netrokona, Sirajganj and Cox's Bazar districts this evening. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a time when Muslims around the world focus on prayers, fasting, giving charity and religious devotion.

All government, semi-government and private offices have arranged new office schedule. The Islamic Foundation Bangladesh (IFB) has urged all mosques concerned across the country to perform Khatme Taraweeh in the same manner during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. "The custom of reciting certain ayats (verses) of the Holy Quran in Khatme Taraweeh prayers is practiced in almost countrywide all mosques in the Ramadan . . . However, the dissimilarities are being observed in some mosques," the IFB said.