Dhaka: The holy Shab-e-Barat, known as the night of fortune, will be observed across the country Monday night with due religious fervour and devotion.

The devout Muslims would spend the night at mosques and homes offering prayers, reciting from the holy Quran and seeking blessings from Allah for long life, peace, progress and happiness for themselves, their families, relatives and friends as well as the nation and the Muslim Ummah.

They consider Shab-e-Barat as one of three most sacred nights and believe that on this night Almighty Allah decides the fate of all human beings fixing their 'rizq' (livelihood) for the next year.

The devotees across the country would visit graves and pray for the peace of the souls of beloved ones who are no more. Many will also visit the mazars, shrines of saints all over the country.

Traditional foods like hand made rice-bread with beef and halwa would be prepared in the afternoon in the rural and urban areas across the country Monday.

Many Muslims will fast on the following day. They will distribute food and sweets among the neighbours and the poor Monday.

Foods and money will be distributed among the destitute on the occasion.

Meanwhile, President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia greeted all Muslims in the country and elsewhere in the world on the occasion of the holy Shab-e-Barat.

In separate messages on the eve of the holy occasion, they prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of all.

In his message, President M Abdul Hamid said the holy Shab- e- Barat is imminent with the message of fortune for the mankind.

He said Islam is the religion of peace, and the ideals of Islam are the means of welfare in this world and salvation in the world hereafter.

"Along with mercy and blessings, we will pray for continued progress and welfare of the country, and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah on the holy night of Shab-e-Barat," the President said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, called upon all to be devoted to human welfare and nation-building, being inspired with the teachings of Shab-e-Barat.

She said the Shab-e-Barat, known as the night of fortune, brings blessings and mercy from the Almighty for the mankind.

The Prime Minister called for applying the spirit of Islam, the religion of peace, in personal, social and state levels, shunning religious prejudice and narrowness.

Opposition Leader Begum Khaleda Zia said all should pledge on this night to work for welfare of the mankind shunning conflicts, bloodsheds and jealously.

The Islamic Foundation and other religious organizations have chalked out daylong programmes, including discussion meetings, hamd, naat, milad, zikr and doa.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes.

The daily newspapers will publish special articles highlighting the significance of holy Shab-e-Barat.

Ends/AMA/24/06/13