Due to the sighting of the moon in Afghanistan, Niger and Mali, people of some parts of Sadra and Shameshpur villages of Barakul West Union of Hajiganj in Chandpur are celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

Eid Jamaat was held at Sadra Darbar Sharif Madrasa ground in Hajiganj on Sunday morning. The congregation was led by Pir Mufti Allama Zakaria Chowdhury Al Madani of Sadra Darbar Sharif.

Meanwhile, like last year, there has been a mixed reaction among those celebrating Eid in advance, depending on the moon sighting in any part of the world. Many of them have expressed displeasure over the issue.

In this regard, the great Pirzada Pir of the Sadra court. Mufti Baki Billah Mishkat Chowdhury said, “The final decision of the three schools of thought is Hanafi, Maliki and Hambli. If the moon is seen in the western part of the earth and the news reaches the eastern part of the earth through reliable means, then fasting is obligatory for Muslims in the eastern part and Eid.” It is obligatory. The moon was seen in Afghanistan, Niger and Mali on Saturday. Today we are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr after receiving that news on a reliable basis. Besides, Eid Jamaat has been held at Khanka, Askona in Sadarghat of Dhaka and Badarpur Darbar Sharif in Patuakhali. Eid was not celebrated in many villages as the information about the sighting of the moon could not be conveyed in time. They will celebrate Eid later.

However, another Pir of Sadra Darbar Sharif. Arif Chowdhury said, ‘We are not celebrating Eid. Even though my uncles celebrate Eid, it doesn’t seem acceptable to us. We will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday.

According to the locals, when the moon of the holy month of Ramadan is seen all over the country, fasting starts from a day before in the villages of Sadra and Shamespur. Today, when Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated in a part of these two villages, they have observed 29 fasts. And when the rest will celebrate Eid on Monday, they will observe 30 fasts.

In keeping with the Arab countries, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated in 40 villages of three upazilas of Chandpur every year. Followers of Sadra Durbar Sharif have been celebrating Eid in 40 villages, including Sadra, on the basis of first moon sighting for 93 years.

Apart from Sadra, the villages which celebrated Eid a day ago are: Balakhal, Sreepur, Manihar, Barakul, Alipur, Belchon, Rajargaon, Jakni, Kalchon, Menapur, Shachanmegh, Khila, Uvarampur, Paikpara, Bighala, Bighol, , Rupsha, Basara, Goalvaor, Koraitali, Nayarhat, Matlab’s Mohanpur, Ekhlaspur, Dashani, Nayergaon, several villages including Beltali.

Besides, followers of World Mufti Allama Maulana Ishaq Chowdhury celebrated Eid a day earlier in Noakhali, Laxmipur, Bhola and Shariatpur districts near Chandpur.