Wednesday, 04 February, 2026
Muslims across the country observed the holy night of Shab-e-Barat with prayers, acts of charity, and traditional delicacies, while graveyards glowed with flickering candles and lamps in a mark of reverence for departed souls.graveyards have been decorated with lights as devotees seek forgiveness for the departed souls.
The night, considered one of forgiveness and reflection, saw mosques and homes illuminated, as communities united in faith and remembrance. Families gathered to distribute food and alms to the needy, recite Quranic verses, and offer prayers for the well-being of loved ones, blending spiritual devotion with age-old cultural practices.
In villages and many urban areas, families traditionally prepare homemade rice bread, halua, beef curry and biryani, which are shared with relatives, neighbours and the poor on the occasion.
The scene in Old Dhaka, however, was different, as residents largely rely on bakeries due to limited space for home cooking. Large, handmade “mega-sized” breads, along with chickpea halwa, carrot halwa and semolina halwa, are prepared and displayed for sale at street corners across the area.
In Chawk Bazar, the century-old traditional bread and halua market reopened for Shab-e-Barat on Tuesday evening (Feb 3). Buyers began arriving in Chawk Bazar, Shahi Mosque and nearby alleys shortly after sunset. Traders said the crowd was slightly smaller than last year, though it increased as the night progressed.
Breads were sold by weight, with special breads priced at Tk 300 per kg and regular ones at Tk 250 per kg. Carrot halwa sells for Tk 300 per kg, chickpea halwa for Tk 350 per kg and semolina halwa for Tk 250 per kg. Sales continue throughout the night.
Shops selling prayer caps, rosaries, perfumes and kohl also remained busy. Graveyards in Old Dhaka and Keraniganj have been decorated with lights, attracting people of all ages to pray for deceased relatives. Children and teenagers were seen buying fireworks and candles, while families distributed sliced bread and halua among neighbours, the poor and beggars near the graveyards.
People from all walks of life are spending the night offering nawafil prayers, zikr and tahleel, marking the sacred night through devotion and charity.
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Muslims across the country observed the holy night of Shab-e-Barat with prayers, acts of charity, and traditional delicacies, while graveyards glowed with flickering candles and lamps in a mark of reverence for departed souls.graveyards have been decorated with lights as devotees seek forgiveness for the departed souls.
The night, considered one of forgiveness and reflection, saw mosques and homes illuminated, as communities united in faith and remembrance. Families gathered to distribute food and alms to the needy, recite Quranic verses, and offer prayers for the well-being of loved ones, blending spiritual devotion with age-old cultural practices.
In villages and many urban areas, families traditionally prepare homemade rice bread, halua, beef curry and biryani, which are shared with relatives, neighbours and the poor on the occasion.
The scene in Old Dhaka, however, was different, as residents largely rely on bakeries due to limited space for home cooking. Large, handmade “mega-sized” breads, along with chickpea halwa, carrot halwa and semolina halwa, are prepared and displayed for sale at street corners across the area.
In Chawk Bazar, the century-old traditional bread and halua market reopened for Shab-e-Barat on Tuesday evening (Feb 3). Buyers began arriving in Chawk Bazar, Shahi Mosque and nearby alleys shortly after sunset. Traders said the crowd was slightly smaller than last year, though it increased as the night progressed.
Breads were sold by weight, with special breads priced at Tk 300 per kg and regular ones at Tk 250 per kg. Carrot halwa sells for Tk 300 per kg, chickpea halwa for Tk 350 per kg and semolina halwa for Tk 250 per kg. Sales continue throughout the night.
Shops selling prayer caps, rosaries, perfumes and kohl also remained busy. Graveyards in Old Dhaka and Keraniganj have been decorated with lights, attracting people of all ages to pray for deceased relatives. Children and teenagers were seen buying fireworks and candles, while families distributed sliced bread and halua among neighbours, the poor and beggars near the graveyards.
People from all walks of life are spending the night offering nawafil prayers, zikr and tahleel, marking the sacred night through devotion and charity.
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