Moon not sighted, Ramadan from Friday

The holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims engage in self-purification through fasting and abstinence, begins in the country from Friday as the new crescent moon was not sighted in Bangladesh's night sky this evening.

The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office with State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan in the chair, the ministry said in a release today.

Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, a time of restraint and austerity, during the lunar month.

The government has already set the office timing for the holy month of Ramadan – from 9:00am to 3:30pm -- for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions.

All these offices will remain open from 9:00am to 3:30pm with a break from 1:15pm to 1:30pm for Zohr prayers during the month.

Taraweeh prayers will begin from tomorrow night.

As per the decision of the committee, Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on the night of April 18.