Ramadan is being observed by the Bangladeshi Muslim community in the Klang Valley this year with renewed hope and happiness.
Due to restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years, social gatherings were not possible.
However, with most restrictions now eased, the community has been busy organising a number of events this fasting month.
Bangladeshi Students Union of Malaysia, which has 2,000 members from 26 universities, is planning a grand iftar party.
The union’s vice-president Md Al-Mamun said 500 guests including students, lecturers and professionals from the community had been invited.
“We hope guests will have a great time with their friends.
“Some Malaysian and Bangladeshi politicians, business leaders and personalities will also join us for this celebration where we will be serving delicious Bengali and Malaysian dishes,” he said.
Bangladeshi residents living near Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang campus have already hosted several small iftar gatherings at their homes with 15 to 20 people from the community in attendance.
“At these home iftar gatherings, we perform terawih prayers and recite the Quran,” revealed Al-Mamun.
“During Ramadan, we try to increase our charitable endeavours.”
Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Fasting during Ramadan is also aimed at helping Muslims emphatise with the poor who do not have sufficient food.
As such, many will usually step up their charity works and offer free iftar meals at mosques to help the needy during this period.
Since 2013, Bangladeshis in Sri Serdang have been providing food to the mosque in their area.
UPM associate professor Dr Md Kamal Uddin said that this year, there were plans to provide meals for 150 to 200 people at the mosque.
“RM1,500 has been collected from 30 to 40 Bangladeshi people for this initiative,” he said.
Bengalis love sharing their specially prepared iftar meals with their friends and neighbours, said Al-Mamun.
“During Ramadan, we make some traditional iftar dishes at home including aloor chop, chola, beguni, piyazu and haleem.
“Sometimes, we also buy Bengali sweets such as jilapi and bundiya from a restaurant nearby for iftar.
“Some authentic delicacies like shahi tukra, dahi bara, faluda, pithas and chapli kebab are not available in Malaysia.
“In Bangladesh, we buy these from shops during Ramadan but since they are not available here, we miss eating these dishes,” he said.