The holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune and forgiveness, was observed in the country on Monday night with due religious fervour.
According to Muslim belief, it is the night when Allah arranges the affairs of the following year. On this night, Allah writes the destinies of all the creations for the coming year by taking into account their past deeds.
Muslim devotees are offering special prayers, reciting from the Holy Quran, holding religious gatherings seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of mankind. They are passing the whole night offering prayers.
This year worshipers are offering prayers following health protocols amid a growing number of coronavirus cases and an alarming uptrend in the daily infection rate.
Bangladesh on Monday recorded its highest-ever single-day infection (5,181) since the first cases were reported on March 8 last year.
The daily infection rate jumped to 18.38% from 17.65% on Sunday.
Muslim devotees offer prayers on the night of Shab-e-Barat at Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka on Monday, March 29, 2021 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a ban on the transport and use of fireworks and firecrackers on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, private TV channels and radio stations are airing special programs while newspapers published articles highlighting the significance of the night.
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Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, the President said the holy night opens up an opportunity for the mankind to get special blessings and forgiveness of the Almighty Allah.
“I pray to Almighty Allah during the holy night for the continued progress and welfare of the country and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah,” he said.
The prime minister in her message said Shab-e-Barat is a night of fortune which brings the blessings of Almighty Allah for the mankind.
She urged all to offer prayers during the Shab-e-Barat night maintaining the social distancing rules and hygiene.
