Shawwal moon sighted in Bangladesh 

The Shawwal Moon has been sighted in the sky of Bangladesh, clearing the way to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow. 

The National Moon Sighting Committee made the announcement this evening, after a meeting of the committee, reports Somoy TV. 

The authorities have made arrangements to hold five congregations at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The first Eid congregation will be administered at 7am by Hafez Mufti Mawlana Mizanur Rahman, senior Pesh Imam of the national mosque, an Islamic Foundation press release said on Tuesday afternoon.

It also said the second jamaat will be at 8 am, and the next three jamaats are slated for 9am, 10am, and 10:45am.

Muslims in the country are all set to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday, subject to sighting of the moon.

Due to the coronavirus induced adverse situation, the authorities urged all to avoid Eidgahs and other open places and to offer Eid prayers at mosques maintaining  health guidelines.

In an emergency notification on 26 April, the religious affairs ministry also suggested disinfecting mosques before the Eid prayer and not rolling out carpets on the floor. Devotees are encouraged to bring their own prayer mats from home.

Aside from that, there must be arrangements for soap or hand sanitisers at entrances and where devotees perform ablution.

Again, all are encouraged to perform their ablution at home before going to the mosque.

Devotees must wear masks inside the mosques and avoid using the mosque's prayer mats and caps.

Children, elderly people, people with physical ailments, and others involved in taking care of the sick should not and will not be allowed to attend Eid prayers.

Apart from that, devotees are requested to avoid handshaking and hugging after the prayer so that the virus cannot spread from one another.

According to the notification, imams and managing committee members are to ensure proper enforcement of the directives at mosques.

In case of a breach in directives, local administration and law enforcement agencies will take legal action against those responsible. 

This is going to be the second Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated under pandemic restrictions.