Muslim residents of 13 villages in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur have begun fasting for the month of Ramadan conforming with Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of people of Katagor, Sahasrail, Shekhar, Chhoy Hajar, Maitkomra, Bhulbaria, Ganganandapur, Boroga, Kolimajhi, Rakhaltali, Barangkula, Surjok and Dori Sahasrail villages started their dawn-to-sunset fast after having “Sehri” in the early hours of Saturday.
According to locals, these villagers have been fasting during Ramadan and observing Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha along with Saudi Arabia since 1928.
A former chairman of Shekhar union parishad, Abul Kalam Azad, described it as a long-standing custom.
Mahidul Huq, a local resident, said: “We, the followers of Mirzakhil Pir, fast and offer the two Eid prayers in unison with Saudi Arabia."
Boalmari Upazila Parishad Chairman MM Mosharraf Hossain said most of the Muslim residents of these villages have long been celebrating religious festivals at the same time as Saudi Arabia, home to two of Islam's holy sanctuaries - Makkah and Madinah.
