Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The National Moon Sighting Committee will sit at the Islamic Foundation at 7:30pm Sunday to review information concerning the sighting of the next new moon and fix the date of holy Eid-ul-Fitr in the country.
State Minister for Religious Affairs and chairman of the National Moon Sighting Committee Md Shahjahan Miah will preside over the meeting, an official statement said.
“People are requested to inform the committee on phone or by SMS if the moon is seen anywhere across the country, the handout added.
The contact telephone numbers are 9555947, 9555951, 9558337 and 9559643. Information can also be delivered via Fax number 9563397.
If the moon is sighted Sunday, Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest Muslim festival, will be celebrated on Monday after 29 days of fasting in the lunar month of Ramadan. If not, the Eid will be celebrated on September 22 (Tuesday).
Meanwhile, thousands of people already left the city from Thursday night to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones in villages and towns taking advantage of extra ordinarily extended leave of apparently 11 days.
In Dhaka, shopping centres and shopping malls, and groceries, however, were seen a bit crowded with Eid shoppers even on Saturday. Traffic was, however, concentrated mainly around these shopping locations on the day. Rest city-streets were relatively deserted.
The terminals at Gabtali, Mohakhali, Syedabad, Kamalapur and Sadarghat and other places in the city witnessed a rush of homebound people.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-29September09-1:43 am (BST)
