After a long year of waiting, the holy month of Ramadan has returned. It brings with it a message of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. Devout people are preparing to observe this month with deep sincerity. On Wednesday evening, the National Moon Sighting Committee confirmed that the moon was visible in Bangladesh’s sky.
Following this, the Islamic Foundation announced that the counting of the holy month begins on Thursday. Based on this calculation, the holy Shab-e-Qadr will be observed across the country on the night of Monday, March 16.
Across the nation, from cities to villages, there is immense enthusiasm among Muslims. As soon as the moon was sighted, worshippers gathered in mosques for Tarawih prayers after Isha. Essentially, these prayers mark the formal beginning of Ramadan. Later, Muslims partook in Sahri (the pre-dawn meal) and made their intention to fast, seeking the pleasure of Allah.
To maintain religious harmony, the Islamic Foundation has urged all mosques to follow a uniform method for Quran recitation during Tarawih. In a press release, they outlined the plan to avoid confusion.
According to the directive, one and a half chapters (paras) will be recited for the first six days. Then, for the remaining 21 days, one chapter will be read daily. This way, the complete recitation of the Quran will conclude on the 27th night of Ramadan, known as Shab-e-Qadr.
Believers will abstain from food and drink for a specific time to achieve self-purification. Besides fasting, they will spend the month giving to charity, reciting the Quran, and offering optional prayers.
Ramadan is considered superior to all other months in terms of blessings and dignity. This is because the Holy Quran was revealed during this time. While Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries began fasting on Wednesday, Bangladesh joined India, Pakistan, and others in starting on Thursday.
However, the start of the holy month has been met with soaring prices in the kitchen markets. In the capital, Dhaka, four good-quality lemons now cost between 100 and 120 Taka. In contrast, a dozen brown farm eggs cost 110 Taka. In other words, the price of four lemons is now equal to the price of twelve eggs.
A visit to several major markets confirmed this price hike. Sellers argue that demand spikes significantly at the beginning of Ramadan. Unfortunately, supply is not keeping up with this demand. Although some sellers admit that certain traders are overcharging, there is hope that prices for most items may drop after the first week.