The crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan was sighted in the skies of Bangladesh on Wednesday, officials said.

As the moon was seen on the last day of the Arabic month of Shaban, fasting will begin across the country on Thursday.

Devout Muslims will start offering Tarawih prayers from Wednesday night in preparation for the first fast.

The announcement came from a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at the Islamic Foundation auditorium at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad chaired the meeting.