The holy night of Shab-e-Meraj will be observed in Bangladesh on 16 January, following the sighting of the moon of the month of Rajab, authorities have announced.
The decision was made on Sunday evening at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at the Islamic Foundation’s conference room at Baitul Mukarram in Dhaka.
The meeting was chaired by Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain.
Officials said reports from district administrations, the headquarters and regional offices of the Islamic Foundation, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation, and other relevant agencies confirmed the sighting of the Rajab moon in the country.
As a result, the month of Rajab of the Hijri year 1447 will begin on Monday, and Shab-e-Meraj will be observed on 16 January.
In Bangladesh, educational institutions remain closed on Shab-e-Meraj, while government offices observe an optional holiday. This year, however, the occasion falls on a Friday, which is already a weekly holiday.
The meeting was attended by Religious Affairs Secretary Md Kamal Uddin, Additional Secretary Md Fazlur Rahman, Islamic Foundation Director General A Salam Khan, and other committee members.
Shab-e-Meraj, which means “Night of Ascension”, marks the night on which Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) undertook a miraculous journey through the heavens and was granted an audience with Allah.
The occasion holds special significance for Muslims, many of whom observe the night with voluntary prayers and acts of worship. Some also observe voluntary fasting during the day.
