United News of Bangladesh

The crescent moon of the Islamic month of Zilhajj was sighted in Bangladesh sky on Monday, confirming that the country will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on May 28. The National Moon Sighting Committee made the announcement following a meeting held at the conference hall of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the evening. The meeting was chaired by Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad). With this official sighting, the Islamic month of Zilhajj in the Hijri year 1446 has begun, setting the date for Eid-ul-Azha, one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims worldwide. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the Zilhajj moon on Sunday, setting May 27 as Eid day. Eid-ul-Azha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to the Almighty Allah. The festival is marked by special prayers, animal sacrifices and the distribution of meat to the poor and needy.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr –the festival of breaking the fast of Ramadan – Monday as the crescent moon for Shawwal was not sighted on Saturday. Eid-ul-Fitr traditionally begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon. The moon's first appearance can be spotted at different times depending on one's geographic location. Sunday will be the last day of the holy month of Ramadan 2022 and Monday will be celebrated as the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr, according to the moon-sighting authorities of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Egypt, Libya, Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, France, Singapore, and Australia will also celebrate the first day of Shawwal – Eid-ul-Fitr – Monday, marking the end of Ramadan. Read: Eid-ul-Fitr prayer: 5 jamaats to be held at Baitul Mukarram Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar–based on the sighting of the crescent moon – and the tenth is Shawwal whose first day is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitr across the world. The lunar months are shorter than solar months and vary from country to country by about a day. Usually, the crescent of Shawwal is first sighted in Saudi Arabia and then a day later in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and some other countries.