Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighted in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
The Moon Sighting Committees in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have issued advisory to Muslims in the four countries to spot the Crescent Moon, Ramadan Moon or Ramzan Chand, Wednesday 29th Shaban 1447 H, corresponding to February 18, 2026 in the South Asian countries
Ramadan Moon Sighting India, Pakistan, Bangladesh: Pakistan will observe the first day of Ramadan 2026 tomorrow (Thursday Feb 19, 2026) as the Crescent Moon for the Holy Month has been sighted, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad has announced on Wednesday, Geo TV reported.
India, Bangladesh and Nepal have also confirmed sighting of the Moon today and start of Ramadan from Thursday Feb 19, 2026.
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other Arab States have welcomed Ramadan today i.e. Wednesday Feb 18, 2026.
07:55 PM (IST): Ramadan Moon 2026 starts in India from Thursday Feb 19, 2026, Imarat e Shariyah Hind under Jamiat Ulama e Hind, New Delhi has confirmed.
The Imarat e Shariyah Hind has announced this based on the sighting of Moon received from different parts of India.
07:35 PM (IST): The New Moon confirming the beginning of Ramadan has ben sighted in various parts of India, including Patna, Bihar and Jharkhand today evening.
Subayee Jamiat Ahl e Hadees, Andhra Pradesh and Imarat e Shariyah Bihar, Odissa and Jharkhand in separate statements have confirmed the sighting of Ramadan Moon Wednesday, and start of The Holy Month from Thursday Feb 19, 2026.
Moon Sighting Committees in Hyderabad, Telangana, Mumbai and Malegaon, Maharashtra have also confirmed sighting of Moon today and beginning of Ramadan from Thursday Feb 19, 2026.
An official announcement by the Central Ruyat e Hilal Committee under Imarat e Shariya New Delhi, Jamiat Ulama e Hind is awaited.
Meanwhile, Ruyat e Hilal Committee, Jamiat Ahl e Hadees, Nepal has also confirmed beginning of Ramadan from Thursday Feb 19, 2026.
Bangladesh has also confirmed beginning of Ramadan from Thursday Feb 19, 2026. Pakistan is expected to confirm after Maghrib prayers today.
06:20 PM (IST): Ramadan Moon 2026 has been sighted in Bangladesh, accordingly the Holy Month will beging here from Thursday Feb 19, 2026.
"The Holy Month of Ramadan begins in Bangladesh tomorrow i.e. Thusrday Feb 19, 2026 as the New Crescent Moon was sighted this evening", the National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh announced a little while ago Wednesday.
The National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh took the decision at a meeting held at the conference room of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque with Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad in the chair, The Daily Star reported citing its sources at the Islamic Foundation.
Official announcements are soon by authorities in India and Pakistan.
05:15 PM (IST): The Imarat e Sharaiyah, New Delhi in India, Markazi Ruyat e Hilal Committee of Pakistan and National Moon-Sighting Committee meeting in Bangladesh are gearing up to hold the important meeting to confirm the first day of Ramadan in the three countries.
Similiar meetings will also be held in Nepal, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries.
The Moon Sighting Committees and Religious Authorities in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan will issue the official statement soon after Maghrib prayers today.
An official confirmation about the start of Ramadan in South Asia, will come from Bangladesh around 06:00 PM (India Standadrd Time). This will be followed by Ramadan Moon announcement in India after half an hour, and lastly by Pakistan.
01:00 AM (IST): The Moon Sighting Committees in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have issued advisory to Muslims in the four countries to spot the Crescent Moon, Ramadan Moon or Ramzan Chand, Wednesday 29th Shaban 1447 H, corresponding to February 18, 2026 in the South Asian countries.
Wifaqul Ulama London in the United Kingdom (UK) will also confirm on Wednesday the first day of Ramadan 2026.
Ramadan Start Date in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sril Lanka, Nepal and other South Asian countries the Central Moon Sighting Committees, also known as Markazi Ruet-e-Hilal Committees (Markazi Rooyat e Hilal Committee), and religious authorities have made special arrangements in Islamabad, Lahore, Dhaka, New Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other cities to sight the new moon and decide the first day of Ramadan 2026.
Sighting the New Moon on 29th of the ongoing month is established tradition of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). If the Moon is sighted on 29th, the new month starts the next day. Otherwise, the next day is counted as the 30th day of the on-going month, and the next day is counted as the first day of the new month.
Hence, Thursday February 19, 2026 will be the first day of Ramadan in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other South Asian countries, if the New Moon is sighted today.
If the new moon is not spotted today, then Friday February 20, 2026 will be the first day of Ramadan in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other South Asian countries.
The moon sighting committees will hold special session today after Maghrib prayers and analyse reports of moon sighting, if any. The official announcement about the first day of Ramadan will be made soon after the sunset today.
List of Countries where Ramadan starts on Wednesday
Muslims in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and other Middle East states have announced to start the Holy Month from Wednesday February 18, 2026. Following is the list of countries where Ramadan starts on Wednesday.
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Yemen
- Iraq
- Lebanon
- United States of America
- Canada
List of Countries where Ramadan starts on Thursday
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Turkey
- Syria
- Jordan
- Oman
- Brunei
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- Australia
The Central Ruyat e Hilal Committee under the Imarat e Sharaiyah, New Delhi in India, Markazi Ruyat e Hilal Committee of Pakistan and National Moon-Sighting Committee meeting in Bangladesh will confirm today the first day of Ramzan 2026 in the three countries.
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