Islamic Foundation urges all to avoid misleading info on moon sighting

The Islamic Foundation (IF) today urged all concerned to refrain from advanced reporting, misleading and extrajudicial news regarding the moon sighting of the holy month of Shawwal 1444 Hijri.

The IF made the urge to all not to be confused by such news, according to an IF statement signed by its Director General Dr Muhammad Bashirul Alam, reports BSS.

The statement, on Wednesday, said some newspapers including some online media and online editions of daily newspapers published news of Bangladesh Meteorological Department that 'Eid moon will be sighted on Friday evening'.

According to the Meteorological Department's report, signed by meteorologist Sayeed Ahmed Chowdhury, the moon of the Arabic Shawwal month will be sighted on April 21 from 6:25 pm to 7:00 pm.

The news was reported by the IF, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the National Moon Sighting Committee.

It said that the National Moon Sighting Committee is the sole authority of moon sighting for Hijri year and giving decision to this end.

The Director of Meteorological Department is an honorary member of the National Moon Sighting Committee. Besides, the committee has also other directors including space research centers, senior government officials and Islamic scholars of the country.

The National Moon Sighting Committee announces the decision on Moon Sighting after analyzing information received from District Moon Sighting Committees headed by Deputy Commissioners across the country. The committee is approved by the President.

A meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee will be held tomorrow evening. State Minister of Religious Affairs Alhaj Md Faridul Haque Khan will announce the final date of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.