Eid-ul-Fitr would be celebrated across the country on Monday after month-long fasting as the Shawal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh Saturday evening.
The national moon sighting committee made the announcement after a meeting in the evening.
The committee meeting was held at Islamic Foundation and it made the announcement reviewing reports from outlying districts.
Religious affairs secretary Md Nurul Islam said that Shawal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country and the 30 days of the month of Ramadan will be fulfilled on Sunday. The first day of Shawal will be counted from Monday.
Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, he said.
The authorities have asked people not to celebrate Eid outside their homes amid the surge in COVID-19 deaths and infections and there would be no Eid prayers in open spaces and people will not be allowed to move from one neighbourhood to another.
The Muslims were asked to perform Eid prayers in mosques in their respective localities following the health guideline.
He said that despite holding Eid prayers at Eidgahs or open grounds as one of the main components of celebrating Eid by Muslims, this year’s prayers would be performed only in the mosques and people will not be allowed to move to other neighbourhood and distant mosques for the prayers.
Earlier, the religious affairs ministry issued a 13-point directive for Eid congregations where it also said that the mosque-goers were also being discouraged to embrace each other and shake hands after the Eid jamaat.
The notice also asked people to make ablution at their homes, wear masks and wash hands before entering the mosques. It also asked children, elderly people and ailing persons not to go for the prayers.
‘If necessary, more than one jamaat will be arranged at different time slots.
All the health guidelines must be followed by the devotees, failing which government authorities and police will take legal action,’ according to the public notice.
The capital’s main Eid congregation would not be held at the National Eidgah adjacent to the Supreme Court premises this year, rather there would be five Eid prayers at Baitul Mukarram Mosque from 7:00am to 11:00am, said Islamic foundation officials.
The authorities have also suspended the Eid-ul-Fitr congregation at the historic Sholakia Eidgah Maidan this year due to the outbreak.
Bangladesh Betar, BTV, private television networks and radio stations would air special programmes and newspapers will bring out special supplements to mark the Eid celebrations.
Hospitals, orphanages and jails will serve special meals to their inmates.
