Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday

Like last year, this Eid will also be celebrated with a different outlook because of the Covid-19 pandemic The Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on Friday with religious fervour and zeal. The National Moon Sighting Committee decided on the date at a meeting on Wednesday evening, as the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country.

“The moon of Shawwal month of 1442 Hijri was not sighted in the country's sky on Wednesday. So, the Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday,” Islamic Foundation Public Relations Officer Shayla Sharmin told BSS after the meeting.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan, who is also the chairman of the Moon Sighting Committee, presided over the meeting held at the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mokarram National Mosque in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, violating the government directives against travelling amid the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of people have already left the capital city to celebrate Eid with their families at their village homes. Saudi Arabia on Tuesday also decided to celebrate Eid on Thursday, along with many other Middle Eastern countries, as the Shawwal moon was not sighted.

Thousands of people of many villages in different districts of Bangladesh will also celebrate Eid on Thursday, in line with their age-old tradition of celebrating the holy day along with Saudi Arabia.

Eid-ul-Fitr is an Arabic word meaning “festival of breaking of the fast”. The festival marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy Ramadan.

The occasion is seen as a time of forgiveness and giving thanks to Allah for helping people to complete their month-long spiritual fasting. Many Muslims distribute cash and food to the less fortunate ones.

On Eid day morning, usually, Muslims gather at mosques and prayer venues to perform Eid prayers and greet each other. The festival is celebrated by visiting friends and relatives, hosting food parties and sharing sweets.

Children not only get new clothes and shoes but also receive cash gifts called “Salami” from their elders, relatives and well-wishers. However, like last year, this Eid-ul-Fitr is also going to be celebrated after a month of fasting with a different outlook because of the pandemic. 

The government has imposed strict restrictions on all the social gatherings and urged the Muslim devotees to celebrate the festival with only family members indoors instead of visiting relatives and outing around.

The Religious Affairs Ministry has urged devotees to offer the Eid prayer at their nearest mosques instead of the Eidgah and open spaces, maintaining recommended health guidelines amid the pandemic. 

It also suggested disinfecting mosques before the Eid prayer and not rolling out carpets on the floors.

The devotees have been asked to bring their own prayer mats from home. They also must wear masks inside mosques and avoid using prayer mats and caps that were stored earlier there.

Children, elderly people, people with physical ailments, and those involved in taking care of the sick will not be allowed to attend the Eid prayer.

Besides, the devotees were requested to shun handshaking and hugging after the prayer which has been a common practice 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 on Eid day. The first jamaat will be held at 7am while the next four will be administered at 8 am, 9am, 10am, and 10:45am, respectively.

In line with the government directives, Dhaka north and south city corporations have also decided not to hold any Eid jamaat on the open spaces, including at the National Eidgah, in the city.

Besides, the historic Eid jamaat at the Sholakia Maidan in Kishoreganj has also been suspended this year for the second consecutive time because of the pandemic.

Television channels and radio stations will telecast special programs on the occasion of Eid.