The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Shab-e-Barat, the holy night of fortune and forgiveness, was observed across the country Saturday night with religious fervour and devotion.

The Muslims across the country remained awaken for whole night with near and dear ones at mosques and homes, offering prayers, reciting from the holy Quran and seeking divine blessings from Allah for long life, peace, progress and happiness for themselves, their families, relatives and friends as well as the nation and the Muslim Ummah.

Muslim devotees thronged Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Azimpur Graveyard, High Court Mazar and other sacred places that turned into human seas.

The Muslims consider Shab-e-Barat as one of the three most sacred nights and believe that on this night Almighty Allah writes the fate of all human beings fixing their 'rizq' (livelihood) for the coming year.

The Muslims on the night visited graveyards of relations to offer fateha for peace of the departed souls of their near and dear ones as well as for other departed.

They also visited the mazars of saints in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country and distributed food and sweets among the neighbours and the poor.

Many Muslims observed fasting yesterday.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private television channels and radios aired special programs. Newspapers published special articles highlighting the significance of Shab- e-Barat.

Islamic Foundation Bangladesh and other socio-religious organisations organised different programmes, including Quran khwani, waz mahfils, milad and zikr, to observe the day.

Reports of observance of holy Shab-e-Barat were received from divisional and district headquarters as well as from all other parts of the country where people along with their near and dear ones sought their individual fortunes praying to Almighty Allah, besides continued progress and prosperity of the nation, and unity and integrity of the Muslim Ummah.

In Chittagong, holy Shab-e-Barat was observed in the port city with due religious fervour and solemnity.

Socio-cultural and religious organisations including Islamic Foundation arranged programmes including discussions, milad mahfils and zikr on this occasion.