The holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country tomorrow if the moon of Shawwal month is sighted in the sky of Bangladesh today.

The national moon sighting committee will meet on Saturday evening to take a decision in this regard after reviewing information on the moon sighting.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Alhaj Sheikh Md Abdullah, president of the committee, will preside over the meeting.

If the moon is not sighted today, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday.

The countrymen have been requested to inform the committee about the moon sighting over the following phone and fax numbers.

The phone numbers are 9559493, 9555947, 9556407 and 9558337 while fax numbers are 9563397 and 9555951.

However, there will be no Eid jamaat at Eidgah or open grounds this Eid-ul-Fitr due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead, people have been asked to offer Eid prayers at nearby mosques, following special instructions.

Religious Affairs Ministry issued an urgent notice in this regard. On May 14, in the notice, the ministry listed at least 13 instructions for people and the mosque authorities to follow during Eid prayers.

According to the instructions, there will be no carpets in the mosques during prayers and entire mosques should be disinfected before prayers. Everyone will have to bring their own prayer mats (jainamaz).

There should be soap or hand sanitiser at the entrance of every mosque; people will have to maintain distance and follow health guidelines during offering prayers. The notice also said people have to do their ablution, washing of hands and feet, a home and wear a mask before going to mosques.

Elderly people, children, ailing persons and their caregivers should not come to mosques to offer Eid prayers, it said.

Management committee of each mosque, Khatib and Imam will have to ensure implementation of the instructions.

People have also been requested not to hug or shake hands after Eid prayer.

In case of violation of the instructions, local administration and law enforcement agencies will take legal measures.

The country’s biggest Eid congregation will not be held at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan in Kishoreganj this due to the coronavirus outbreak.