Eid-ul-Azha date to be announced this evening

The National Moon Sighting Committee will meet on Wednesday evening at the conference room of the Islamic Foundation in the city’s Baitul Mukarram.

According to a press release issued by the Islamic Foundation on Tuesday, the meeting will be held at 6:30 pm after Maghrib prayers.

The agenda includes the sighting of the moon for the holy month of Zilhajj 1446 Hijri and the determination of the date for the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossen will chair the meeting.

The Islamic Foundation has requested the public to contact the following telephone numbers if the moon of Zilhajj is sighted anywhere in the country: 02-223381725, 02-41050912, 02-41050916, and 02-41050917. Fax numbers: 02-223383397 and 02-9555951.

The Foundation has also urged the public to inform the concerned Deputy Commissioner or Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of any sighting of the Zilhajj moon.

If the moon is sighted on Wednesday, the month of Zilhajj will begin on Thursday (May 29). In that case, Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 7 (10th of Zilhajj).

If the moon is not sighted, Thursday will mark the 30th day of the month of Zilqad. Consequently, the month of Zilhajj will begin on Friday (May 30), and Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on June 8 in the country.

According to Islamic tradition, Muslims sacrifice animals on the 10th day of Zilhajj to seek the pleasure of Allah by offering something dear to them.

Meanwhile, the moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Zilhajj has already been sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid-ul-Azha will be observed there on June 6, and the Hajj pilgrimage will take place on June 5.