UNB, Dhaka: Holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune and forgiveness, is being observed in the country tonight (Tuesday night) with due religious fervour. Muslim devotees started offering special prayers, reciting from the holy Quran, holding milad, zikr and other religious rituals seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of mankind. They are also visiting the graves of their relatives and Muslim saints, and distributing sweets and homemade food among the poor, their neighbours, friends and relatives. On the occasion, various religious and socio-cultural organisations and Islamic Foundation have chalked out elaborate programmes, including religious sermons, hamd-na’t, recitation from the Quran, doa and special prayers. Wednesday is the public holiday as the Shab-e-Barat falls on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia have issued separate messages greeting Muslims on the occasion. Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels and radio stations are airing special programmes while newspapers published articles, highlighting the significance of the night. According to Muslim belief, Shab-e-Barat is the night when Allah arranges the affairs of the following year. On Shab-e-Barat, Allah writes the destinies of all the creations for the coming year by taking into account their past deeds. Shab-e-Barat also means the night of forgiveness. On this exalted night, Muslims pray to Allah both in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan and seeking forgiveness of the sins committed.
