Dhaka: The Holy Ramadan, the lunar month of self-purification through fasting and abstinence, will begin in the country on Sunday.

Lailatul Qadr, the night of divine blessing and benediction, will be observed on the night of June 22.

The National Moon-sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the city with Religious Affairs Minister Principal Matior Rahman in the chair as the new moon was not sighted anywhere in Bangladesh's sky on Friday.

Muslims are meant to fast from dawn to dusk during the lunar month, a time of restraint and austerity.

During the holy month, all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions will follow new office timing as announced by the government.

All these offices will remain open from 9:00am to 3:30pm with a 15-minute prayer break from 1:15pm to 1:30pm during the month.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia issued separate messages greeting the countrymen and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion.