DHAKA: Month-long daytime fasting and abstinence by Muslims begins Thursday as the Islamic month of Ramadan began with the sighting of moon on Wednesday evening.

“The Ramadan moon was sighted in the country this evening,” announced the national moon-sighting committee after reviewing reports from different districts in a meeting at the Islamic Foundation office.

State Minister for Religious Affairs Md. Shahjahan Mia presided over the meeting attended by Islamic scholars of the country and officials concerned.

With the rise of the Ramadan moon in the skies of Bangladesh, Muslim devotees began offering Taraweeh prayers later in the evening across the country.

The government, in the meantime, has made necessary arrangement for facilities, including timely power supply, to facilitate the fasting, praying and observing other religious rituals during the holy month.

Ahead of the month of fasting and festivals, the government held meetings with business leaders and urged businesses to keep the prices of essential commodities within the purchasing capacity of common people.

BDST 1951 HRS. Aug 11, 2010