Staff Reporter :
The holy month of Ramadan, the lunar month of self-purification through fasting and abstinence, begins in the country today as the new moon was sighted on Monday .
Lailatul Qadr, the night of divine blessings and benediction, will be observed on the night of April 6.
The National Moon Sighting Committee announced the decision in a meeting at its Islamic Foundation office on Monday evening after reviewing reports on Ramadan moon sightings.
The Religious Affairs Minister and Chairman of the Committee, Md. Faridul Haque Khan, and other committee members were present in the meeting.
Muslims are meant to fast from dawn to dusk during the lunar month, a time of restraint and austerity.
During the holy month, all government, semi-government, and autonomous and semi-autonomous organisations will follow new office timings.
All these offices will remain open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 15-minute prayer break from 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. during the month.
