by Sumon Corraya

For Christians and Muslims, the sacred period of fasting and prayer began yesterday, at a delicate time for the nation. Archbishop of Dhaka: “We hunger and thirst for justice.” Through fasting and austerity, “Christian life becomes stronger and more authentic.” Government office hours change, public primary schools close for 35 days.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Churches across Bangladesh have begun Lent with prayers, fasting, reconciliation, and almsgiving, while thousands of Catholics gathered for Ash Wednesday liturgies. In the capital Dhaka, four packed Masses were celebrated in the Church of the Rosary in Tejgaon, the scene of an act of terrorist intimidation last October, with many faithful standing outside in devotion.

With ashes marked on their foreheads, the faithful began what Christian tradition describes as a 40-day journey of conversion and purification in preparation for Easter; this year, it also coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer.

Namita Das, 56, arrived at the parish supported by her family and walking with a crutch due to illness. “I couldn't come to church for many days because of my illness,” she tells AsiaNews.

"Today Lent begins. So I came with six members of my family. I prayed to Jesus and asked for his blessing. He gave his life for us,“ she explains. ”In this time of penance, we are thinking about what we can offer him." Although she says she has little to give in material terms, Das intends to pray every evening with her family, go to confession, and donate something to the poor.

Sujit Halder, 38, who works as a marketing manager in a private company and is originally from Sonadanga, in the district of Khulna, also joined the celebration after arriving from Kamalapur railway station. “Lent,” he emphasizes, “is very important in my life.”

“Through fasting, prayer, and the Way of the Cross, I can deeply understand,” he continues, “that Jesus sacrificed his life for us. So we too must purify ourselves and bear witness to our Christian faith with words and actions.”

The beginning of Lent and Ramadan come at a delicate time for the country, which recently held general elections with the victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the rise to power of the long-exiled leader Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Halder pointed out that he is the only Christian among the approximately 300 employees at his workplace. “I try to bear witness,” he said, “by doing my job properly and behaving honestly with everyone. This Lent encourages me to do so even more.”

The Ash Wednesday liturgy in Tejgaon Church was presided over by Msgr. Bejoy N. D'Cruze, president of the Bishops' Conference and archbishop of Dhaka.

In his homily, the prelate recalled the words that are spoken during the imposition of ashes: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” “Let us try to realize this eternal truth,” he added. “The goal of Lent is to live in the presence of God. Let us make this Lent meaningful through fasting, sacrifice, almsgiving, and prayer.”

The archbishop emphasized that Christian responsibility is inseparable from justice. “Our responsibility compels us to establish justice. There is a deep connection between justice and heaven. We hunger and thirst for justice, because through it,” he explained, “we fulfill our responsibility to our brothers and sisters. Where there is justice, all will be well. The hunger for justice will one day be satisfied by God.”

The prelate also emphasized that fasting is not just an outward practice, but “must be done with faith and humility.” “It is not just about abstaining from food. It is about turning away from evil and sin and changing our lifestyle with simplicity and modesty. Through austerity, Christian life becomes stronger and more authentic.”

During Lent, Catholics abstain from eating meat, fish, and eggs on Fridays, offering the money saved to the Church or to the poor. Every week, special devotions are held in parishes, including the Way of the Cross.

This year, the beginning of Lent coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, creating a unique moment when members of the country's two largest religious communities fast at the same time.

For Muslims, it is the month in which the Koran was revealed and is considered a period of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. From dawn to dusk each day, believers abstain from food and drink, seeking closeness to Allah through prayer, charity, and self-discipline, and good deeds receive a multiplied spiritual reward.

The holy month of fasting and prayer brings changes to daily life, including at work and in public: government office hours change from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has also announced 35 days of vacation for public primary schools, from February 19 to March 26. In a country where Christians are a small minority, the simultaneous celebration of Lent and Ramadan highlights both the diversity of Bangladesh and the shared importance of prayer, fasting, and charity.

As Bishop D'Cruze reminded the faithful, Lent is an invitation to inner renewal. “Let us do no wrong. Let us seek justice and holiness in our daily lives, so that this time of penance,” he concluded, “may truly transform us.”