Bangladesh and India will officially begin observing Ramadan tomorrow Thursday after the successful sighting of the crescent moon, marking the start of the holy month for the Islamic year 1447 AH. The announcement in Bangladesh was confirmed by the Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee, which met at the Islamic Foundation office located at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, as reported by local media.
In India, media outlets confirmed that the Ramadan crescent was sighted in Allahabad, a major city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Following this confirmation, Muslim communities across India are preparing to observe the first fast with prayers, reflection, and acts of charity.
Several Gulf nations had already begun Ramadan a day earlier. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar announced the start of the holy month after sighting the moon earlier this week. Meanwhile, other nations reported that the crescent was not visible on the same day, highlighting the regional differences that often accompany lunar observations.
Moon sighting committees in Pakistan and Iran are scheduled to convene today, as the Islamic calendar marked the 28th of Shaban, the month preceding Ramadan. Their decisions will determine when fasting begins for millions of Muslims in those countries.
The arrival of Ramadan is welcomed with deep spiritual devotion across the Muslim world. More than one billion believers observe daily fasting from dawn to sunset, focusing on patience, self discipline, prayer, and generosity. As the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on moon sightings, and shifts each year since the Islamic calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
