Islamic Foundation to Determine Start of Ramadan

As the Islamic world prepares for the holiest month of the year, the Islamic Foundation has announced that the National Moon Sighting Committee will convene tomorrow, Wednesday, to determine the official start date of Ramadan in Bangladesh. The meeting, presided over by the Minister for Religious Affairs, will take place at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka to review evidence of the lunar crescent.

The Deliberation Process

The committee is tasked with evaluating reports from across the country regarding the sighting of the moon for the Hijri year 1447. If the crescent is sighted on Wednesday evening, the month of Ramadan will commence on Thursday. However, if the moon remains obscured, the month of Shaban will complete its 30-day cycle, pushing the beginning of the fast to Friday.

To ensure a thorough and accurate observation, the Islamic Foundation has urged citizens to remain vigilant. They have established a dedicated communication network for members of the public to report any sightings of the crescent moon.

Public Notice: Anyone who glimpses the new moon is requested to contact the committee immediately via the provided telephone numbers or notify their respective Deputy Commissioner (DC) or Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

Potential Scheduling for Ramadan 1447

The start of the fast depends entirely on the lunar observation on Wednesday evening. The following table outlines the two possible scenarios for the faithful:

Rituals and Preparations

Ramadan is a period of intense spiritual reflection, communal prayer, and fasting from dawn until sunset. Should the moon be sighted tomorrow, mosques across the nation will echo with the first Tarawih prayers on Wednesday night. Thousands of devotees are expected to gather at Baitul Mukarram and other local masjids to begin the month-long recitation of the Quran.

The Islamic Foundation has confirmed the following emergency contact numbers for moon-sighting reports:

02-41053294

02-226640510

02-223383397

This announcement marks a period of heightened anticipation for millions of Bangladeshis, as the exact timing of the pre-dawn meal (Sehri) and the breaking of the fast (Iftar) remains the central focus of household preparations this week.