Holy Shab-e-Qadr tonight

The holy Shab-e-Qadr, also known as Lailatul Qadr (the Night of Decree), will be observed across the country tonight.

On this night, the first verses of the holy Quran were revealed to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

Muslim devotees will pass the night offering special prayers, reciting the holy Quran, holding zikr and other religious rituals, seeking blessings of almighty Allah for long life, peace and progress for themselves, their families, relatives, friends as well as the nation and the Muslim Ummah.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, greeting the countrymen and the Muslim Ummah across the world on the occasion of the holy Shab-e-Qadr.

In separate messages, they prayed for continuous peace, progress and prosperity of the country, the whole world and the Muslim Ummah.

According to the holy Quran, the night is better than 1,000 nights as the angels and the spirit descend therein, by the permission of almighty Allah with all decrees.

This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights which is likely to occur on one of the odd number nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month.

Devotees, on the nights, usually visit graveyards to seek eternal blessings for the departed souls of their near and dear ones.

For Muslims, the entire month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training. Besides fasting, they devote themselves to praying, reciting the holy Quran and offering charity.

Newspapers have published special articles while state-run Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private television channels are telecasting special programmes highlighting the significance of Lailatul Qadr.