Dhaka: Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated in the country on Thursday as the moon of Shawwal month was not sighted in Bangladesh sky on Tuesday.

The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision in a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office in the evening after reviewing the information of sighting of the Shawwal moon.

Director General of the Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afzal and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Ministry Bazlul Haque Haroon were present at the meeting held with Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman, also chairman of the moon sighting committee, in the chair.

Meanwhile, responding to the pull of roots, thousands of people have already left the capital to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones at their village homes.

Besides, all preparations have already been completed for smooth holding of Eid congregations across the country.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have announced that Eid al-Fitr in these countries will be celebrated on Wednesday (July 6) as the moon for the month of Shawwal was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Arab media reported.  

Eid-ul-Fitr varies every year and from country to country depending on geographical locations.

Eid al-Fitr means ‘festival of breaking the fast’ and marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drinks and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk, which is an exercise in self-restraint, intended to bring the faithful closer to God.