The holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune and forgiveness, will be observed in the country on May 22 as the Shaban moon was not sighted in Bangladesh sky yesterday.

The National Moon Sighting Committee made the decision at a meeting at the Islamic Foundation office at Baitul Mukarram in the evening, said a handout.

Joint Secretary M Amzad Ali of the religious affairs ministry chaired the meeting.

According to Muslim belief, Shab-e-Barat is the night when Allah arranges the affairs of the following year. On Shab-e-Barat, Allah writes the destinies of all the creations for the coming year by taking into account their past deeds.

Muslim devotees will offer special prayers, recite from the holy Quran, hold milad, zikr and perform other religious rituals throughout the night, seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of mankind.