The holy Lailatul Barat (Shab-e-Barat), the night of fortune, was observed throughout the country on Tuesday (Mar 7) night with due religious fervour and devotion. Muslims consider Shab-e-Barat as one of the three most sacred nights and believe that on this night Almighty Allah decides the fate of all human beings fixing their 'rizq' (livelihood) for the next year. The Muslim devotees spent the night at mosques and homes offering prayers, reciting from the holy Quran and seeking blessings to Almighty Allah for long life, peace, progress and happiness for themselves, their families, relatives and friends as well nation and the Muslim Ummah.
The people thronged different mosques, including the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, across the city to join the Esha prayers with congregation and offer special prayers seeking divine blessings.
On the night, the devotees across the country visited graves and prayed for their beloved ones seeking their eternal peace. Many people also visited Mazars and shrines all over the country.
Many families prepared traditional foods like handmade rice-bread, beef and halua (a kind of dessert made usually from semolina, carrot, chickpea or papaya) both in rural and urban areas across the country.
A good number of Muslims kept fasting on Wednesday a day after holy Shab-e-Barat. They distributed food and sweets among the neighbours and the poor.
Traditionally, food and money are distributed among the destitute people on the occasion.
On this occasion, Islamic Foundation chalked out programmes at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka. Religious sermons highlighting the significance of Shab-e-Barat were delivered at various mosques since Maghrib prayers, local media reported.
Wednesday was a public holiday on the occasion of the holy Shab-e-Barat.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private television channels and radio stations aired special programmes on the occasion while newspapers published special supplements highlighting the significance of the night.
