EID-UL-FITR comes after Ramadan, on Shawwal 1, and fasting is forbidden on that day. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle and important days are scheduled by seeing the crescent moon of the month. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also followed the lunar month for ramadan.
Some people in Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on the same day as Saudi Arabia, while the majority will celebrate as per government announcement. Saudi Arabia (KSA) is likely to celebrate on September 20, but it is unlikely that the Shawwal moon will be seen on September 19 in Bangladesh.
The people who celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with KSA are followers of some ulema, but have deviated from the instruction of our Prophet. Saudi Arabia is 3-hours behind Bangladesh, so sunset in Saudi Arabia will be 3 hours after Bangladesh. For this reason, KSA observes Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr before Bangladesh. So, how can people be made to understand the difference in the timing? The responsibility lies with the ulema, imams and religious clerics.
The Islamic calendar is used primarily for religious purposes, and for official dating of Islamic events and documents in Muslim majority countries, while the Gregorian or other calendars are used for administrative purposes. The Supreme Judicial Council of KSA has forecasted the dates of Eid al-Adha for Saudi Arabia up to 2020. Future dates are calculated according to the Umm al Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia.
If KSA can forecast the Hajj and Eid-al-Adha on the basis of the astronomical calculations, then why can't we use the same system to calculate moon-rise and moon-set timings in Bangladesh? We can announce the date of Eid-ul-Fitr at least 10 days earlier so that people can celebrate Eid without hassle, dilemma and uncertainty.
The time difference between the South (Teknaaf) and the North (Tetulia) is only 16 minutes. Sunset takes place at Teknaaf/ Cox's Bazar 16 minutes earlier than at Tetulia. This time difference may not be a big one, but may be a deciding factor in moon sighting and, consequently, on the observance of Eid. We must accept science and astronomical data, because the predicted times are correct to the second. We shouldn't follow KSA's timing.
The timings of sunrise, sunset time, moonrise and moonset are very important to mariners. These times are predicted and published by many organisations in the world.
The moonrise, moonset, sunrise and sunset times of any place depend on its latitude and longitude. The geographic location of Dhaka is 23°43'N, 90°26'E. On September 19, moonset will be at 6 pm, along with the sunset, and will be the day after amabashya. So, there is no possibility of moon sighting in Bangladesh on September 19.
On September 20, the phase of the moon will be hilal (crescent) and the 2nd day. The exact time of moonset over Dhaka on September 20 will be 18h 57m 30sec. (24 hr time system), while the sunset time will be 17h 56m 18sec. (These times are not in Daylight Saving Time.) So there is every possibility that moon will be visible over Cox's Bazar, Chittagong and Dhaka subject to clear sky.
Prophet Mohammad's sermon was "see the moon and start Ramadan: see the crescent moon of Shawwal and celebrate your Eid-al-Fitr." Every year, the moon sighting committee sits under the auspices of the Islamic Foundation. In the past, instead of settling the problem they created more confusion.
The Islamic Foundation should include the Director of Naval Operations as a member of the moon-sighting committee, who will provide the astronomical parameters to make the correct decision. The Eid-ul-Fitr date can be announced 7 to 10 days early because these predictions are correct to the second.
We shouldn't celebrate Eid-al-Fitr according to the Saudi date and time. Riyadh is located at 24° 39' N 46° 46' E. If we compare the lat and long of Dhaka and Riyadh, we see that Dhaka is far to the east of Riyadh (Long difference 47d 04m East). Mainly due to the longitudinal difference, there is the time difference of 3 hours between Dhaka and Riyadh, which is why Saudi Arabia will always start ramadan one day before Bangaldesh and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr one day earlier too.

Capt. Kazi Mahbub Hassan is a retired Bangladesh Navy officer. E-mail: [email protected]