Bangladesh to celebrate Shab-e-Barat on Feb 3 night

Authorities announce the date after the Shaban moon was not sighted

The Muslim festival of Shab-e-Barat will be celebrated in Bangladesh on the night of Feb 3, according to the National Moon-Sighting Committee.

The date was set in a meeting presided over by Md Kamal Uddin, secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Islamic Foundation in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Monday.

The committee announced the date after the moon for the month of Shaban in the Arabic calendar could not be seen on Monday.

Feb 4 will be a public holiday.

Shab-e-Barat is observed on the night of the 14th of Shaban in the Islamic calendar.

It is celebrated 15 days before the arrival of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims.

Muslims offer special prayers at mosques and homes, families exchange bread and sweets, and give handouts to the poor to honour the night.