The Shawwal moon of the Hijri year 1447 was sighted in Bangladesh on Friday, March 20, confirming that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country on Saturday. The sighting was reported from Cox’s Bazar, marking the end of 30 days of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier, the National Moon Sighting Committee met at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Thursday evening to review reports from across the country. Based on information from district administrations, the Islamic Foundation, the Meteorological Department, and the Space Research and Remote Sensing Center, the committee had announced that the moon was not visible on Thursday, making Friday the 30th day of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, several Middle Eastern countries, and parts of Africa including Afghanistan, Mali, and Niger observed Eid-ul-Fitr earlier, on Thursday and Friday respectively.

The Islamic Foundation has announced that five Eid-ul-Fitr congregations will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Saturday. The prayer sessions are scheduled sequentially at 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 10:45 a.m. The first congregation will be led by Senior Pesh Imam Maulana Mizanur Rahman, followed by Mufti Muhibbullahil Baqi Nadvi, Maulana Md Zakir Hossain, Maulana Zubair Ahmed Al Azhari, and Mufti Maulana Mohammad Abdullah for the subsequent sessions. Assistant Librarian Maulana Shahidul Islam will serve as an alternate imam if needed.

According to the Islamic Foundation, the arrangement of multiple prayer sessions aims to accommodate the large number of worshippers expected to attend, continuing the tradition of organizing several congregations each year during Eid-ul-Fitr at the national mosque.

The announcement reaffirms the Foundation’s preparation to ensure smooth and orderly observance of the festival’s main prayers in the capital.

A three-day Eid festival organized by a citizens’ initiative in Dhaka begins today at the Rabindra Sarobar premises. The opening day features a daylong mehendi celebration followed by an evening cultural program where NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud will perform songs. The event marks the start of a series of festivities planned across the capital.

According to the organizing committee, the festival aims to revive Dhaka’s traditional urban heritage and festive culture. On Eid day, a colorful procession will start from the High Court premises, recalling the city’s historic communal celebrations. The final day will feature a kite festival at Suhrawardy Udyan, where participants of all ages will join in flying colorful kites to celebrate the joy of Eid.

Organizers said the initiative continues Dhaka’s long-standing tradition of Eid as a time for civic unity, cultural expression, and shared happiness.

In Iran, preparations for the ancient Nowruz festival continue despite widespread anxiety over possible conflict. Traditionally marking the first day of spring, Nowruz is celebrated with new clothes, sweets, and family gatherings. However, this year the usual festive atmosphere is subdued. Markets remain open, but many residents, especially in Tehran, are hesitant to return to the capital after it suffered heavy damage from recent U.S. and Israeli attacks.

A woman from Damavand, northeast of Tehran, described how the season once meant cleaning homes and buying new clothes and sweets, but now each day feels unusually long and uncertain. The 3,000-year-old festival, meaning “new day,” remains one of the world’s oldest cultural celebrations, symbolizing renewal and hope.

Despite fears of war and instability, many Iranians are maintaining the tradition in limited ways, balancing their cultural heritage with the realities of current tensions.

Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were held in Dhaka and multiple districts of Bangladesh on Friday, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s celebration. In the capital, a group of worshippers performed the prayer at Sheikh Januruddin (R.) Darul Quran Madrasa in Malibagh Chowdhuripara. Similar congregations took place in Chandpur, Bogura, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Moulvibazar, Jhalakathi, Kishoreganj, Patuakhali, and Madaripur.

In Bogura, prayers were held in several villages across Gabtali, Sonatala, and Dhunat upazilas, while nearly 40 villages in Chandpur observed Eid at the same time. Naogaon’s Patnitala upazila, Dinajpur’s six upazilas, and Faridpur’s nine villages also joined the early celebration. In Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila, around 10,000 people from seven villages attended the prayer, and in Madaripur, about 30,000 people from 25 villages participated in the largest congregation at Char Kalikapur.

The early observance followed reports of moon sighting in the Middle East, prompting several communities in Bangladesh to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr a day earlier than the national schedule.

Residents of around 40 villages in Chandpur district are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, aligning with the Middle Eastern moon sighting. The celebrations are taking place in Hajiganj, Faridganj, Matlab North, and Matlab South upazilas. The decision was confirmed on Thursday night by Dr. Bakibillah Mishkat Chowdhury, Pirzada of Sadra Darbar Sharif in Hajiganj, who stated that the celebration follows reports of moon sighting in the Middle East.

At the same time, several villages in Matlab North are also observing Eid-ul-Fitr. Dr. Maulana Syed Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, Pir of Satkania Mirzakhil Darbar Sharif, verified the information. Local sources reported that thousands of residents from villages such as Sadra, Sameshpur, Alipur, Balakhal, Lakshmipur, Kamta, Gallak, Dashani, and Mohanpur are participating in the festivities.

According to the report, this tradition dates back to 1932 when the then Pir of Sadra Darbar Sharif, Maulana Ishaq (Rah.), began observing Ramadan and Eid in accordance with Middle Eastern countries.

Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the Shawwal moon on Thursday, marking the end of Ramadan and confirming that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday across the kingdom and other Middle Eastern countries. The Royal Court made the announcement on Thursday evening, confirming that the first day of Shawwal 1447 Hijri falls on March 20, 2026.

Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, is observed after a month of fasting during Ramadan. The date of the celebration depends on the sighting of the moon, which determines both the start and end of the fasting month.

In contrast, Bangladesh did not sight the Shawwal moon on Thursday. As a result, the country will complete 30 days of fasting and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, a day later than Saudi Arabia and most Middle Eastern nations.

Followers of the Mirzakheel Darbar Sharif in Satkania, Chattogram, will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, a day earlier than the national observance, following the tradition of aligning with Saudi Arabia. The main Eid congregation will be held at the Darbar Sharif field at 9:30 a.m., led by Dr. Mufti Maulana Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, son of the Darbar’s Pir Hazrat Maulana Mohammad Areful Hai. The devotees had begun fasting a day earlier in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting.

According to the Darbar Sharif, its followers have been observing Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, and other lunar-based religious events in this manner for nearly two centuries, based on the Hanafi school of thought. They determine the timing of observances by considering moon sightings in any part of the world, particularly in Makkah and Madinah, supported by scientific calculations of longitude and latitude.

Eid will also be celebrated on Friday by Mirzakheel Darbar Sharif followers in more than a hundred villages across Chattogram and nearby districts, including Chandpur, Feni, Cumilla, Dhaka, Sylhet, and Barishal, as well as in parts of Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar.

In Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur, Maulana Abu Bakkar Siddiq led an Eid-ul-Fitr congregation with six worshippers at his home in Sadra. Siddiq, the middle son of the late Pir Maulana Ishaq Sadrabi of Sadra Darbar Sharif, performed the prayer two days before the national celebration, continuing a practice he began last year.

For decades, followers of the Sadra Darbar Sharif Pir in 40 villages of Hajiganj’s Barakul Paschim Union have celebrated Eid one day earlier than the rest of Bangladesh, aligning with Saudi Arabia. After the death of the previous Pir, disagreements emerged among his descendants. The current Pir, Mufti Arif Billah Sadrabi, and his uncle Zakaria Al Madani now hold separate Eid congregations one day early, while Abu Bakkar Siddiq observes it two days early.

Siddiq stated that Eid can be celebrated whenever the moon is sighted anywhere in the world. He said the moon was seen in Afghanistan the previous day, and Eid was observed there, prompting his group to celebrate accordingly.

Eid al-Fitr is being celebrated today, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Afghanistan, Niger, and Mali following the sighting of the Shawwal moon. The announcement was made on Wednesday, after which final preparations for the festival began overnight in these countries. The celebration marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, and ushers in a period of joy and festivity for Muslims.

The date of Eid varies across countries depending on local moon sightings. While some nations are observing Eid today, others will celebrate it a day later. According to the report, 23 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Canada, will begin Eid celebrations on Friday, March 20, 2026.

The variation in celebration dates highlights the regional differences in moon sighting practices that determine the Islamic calendar’s transition from Ramadan to Shawwal.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam announced that preparations for the National Eidgah in Dhaka have been completed. He said President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will perform Eid prayers together at the venue. The announcement came after his inspection of the site on Thursday, March 19, around 11:30 a.m.

According to the minister, the National Eidgah can accommodate 40,000 worshippers, including women, with adequate facilities for ablution. The Eid prayer is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md. Sarwar stated that the DMP has ensured security for Eid congregations at the National Eidgah, Baitul Mukarram, and other locations. He requested attendees not to carry bags or other items to the prayer grounds.

The completion of preparations and security arrangements aims to ensure a smooth and safe Eid congregation in the capital city.

Astronomers have forecast that Eid al-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on March 20, 2026, across Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. The Emirates Astronomy Society’s chairman, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, stated that Ramadan is expected to complete 30 days this year. The Saudi Supreme Court has called on citizens to look for the Shawwal moon on Wednesday, March 18. If the moon is sighted that evening, Eid will be on March 19; otherwise, it will fall on March 20.

In Bangladesh, where Eid is typically observed a day after the Middle East due to geographical differences, the festival is expected to be celebrated on March 21, 2026. As the national holiday began on March 17, people have already started traveling home, and preparations for the festival are in full swing.

The final confirmation of the Eid date in both regions will depend on the official moon sighting announcements expected on March 18 evening.

Bangladesh has begun a seven-day public holiday from Tuesday, March 17, 2026, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Monday was the last working day before the break, after which large numbers of people started leaving cities for their hometowns. Depending on the sighting of the moon, Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival for Muslims in the country, is expected to be celebrated on Saturday, March 21.

The Ministry of Public Administration had earlier fixed a five-day holiday from March 19 to 23, including the main Eid day on March 21. To ease travel for holidaymakers, the government later added March 18 as an additional holiday through an executive order, combining it with the Shab-e-Qadr holiday on March 17 to make a continuous seven-day break for government employees.

Essential services such as electricity, water, gas, fire service, port operations, sanitation, telecommunications, postal services, and emergency medical facilities will remain operational during the holiday period, ensuring uninterrupted public service.

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam announced that all preparations for the main Eid congregation at the National Eidgah in Dhaka have been completed. The main Eid prayer will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026. He made the announcement while inspecting the overall arrangements at the venue.

According to Salam, the National Eidgah can accommodate around 35,000 worshippers for the Eid prayer. Considering the warm weather, efforts are being made to install air conditioning in some sections of the ground. Adequate fans and lighting will also be arranged. Facilities include ablution areas, separate entrances for women, mobile toilets, and primary medical services for attendees.

The administrator emphasized that the preparations aim to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for all worshippers attending the main Eid congregation in the capital.

An inscription discovered in 1964 at Sujangarh in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, has been identified as evidence of the oldest Islamic religious establishment in Bikrampur, dating back to the reign of King Bhojavarman of the Barman dynasty (circa 1137–1145 CE). The Sanskrit inscription, containing the term ‘Allabhattarakasvamijanaseetavihara,’ is preserved at the Bangladesh National Museum. Scholars interpret the word ‘Alla’ as a Sanskritized form of ‘Allah,’ suggesting the existence of a mosque-like institution, possibly with an attached madrasa, long before the Turkish conquest of Bengal in 1205 CE.

The inscription records a financial endowment authorized by King Bhojavarman in his seventh regnal year and mediated by a subordinate named Abhudeva, whose name reflects Arabic influence. Later analyses by scholars, including Ryozuke Furui of the University of Tokyo, have highlighted the inscription’s significance as evidence of early Muslim presence in Bengal through trade rather than conquest. It also reflects the cultural pluralism of the Barman rulers, who supported Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic institutions.

This finding reinforces the historical narrative of religious coexistence and multicultural exchange in twelfth-century Bengal, illustrating how early Bengal society accommodated diverse faiths within its political and cultural framework.