In the spirit of shared fasting: Ramadan beyond walls and halls

Ramadan at the residential campus of Brac University is an unmatched memory for the students who get to experience it. From the midnight runs to Tripti for sehri to finding a place at iftar, it’s co-existing in communal harmony, trying to fill in the gaps of longing for home.

What truly makes it meaningful is the students creating their own traditions with their found families through improvised iftars, late-night conversations that stretch till sehri, going to morning classes bleary-eyed, playing sports while fasting, and heading to iftar with throats drier than the Sahara desert. “I really enjoyed how we took turns making juice every day; it was very warm to share homely meals far from home,” reminisced Drimit Alam Heeya (Sophomore, SLS) when asked about her memories of Ramadan in the residential campus. The bliss of this experience lies within such comforts from friends when everyone is away from their families. The power of bonding makes them a newfound family.

“The nicest thing about TARC during Ramadan was everyone being in the same situation, which made staying away from my family less hard. In hindsight, living alone in Dhaka during this time is more strenuous. In comparison, RS had more of a communal feeling than living alone, and it was easier to fall into the routine. “I would call it a bittersweet memory,” expressed Afnan Zaman (Sophomore, CS), a student living alone in Dhaka.

Binita Devnath (Junior, CSE) reminisced about her own memories, “It was the first time I got to experience Ramadan so differently. My friends were persistent in bringing me along to their midnight sehri outings at Tripti, and I am very grateful that they did, for the experience was really nice.” As a person of a different faith, Binita found Ramadan no less special. She talked about sehri runs, missing her friends during lunch, and post-iftar strolls around Durjoy with fondness. “It’s been 2 years, and I still long for those vibrant iftar gatherings at Anandapur.”

For those who experienced Ramadan at RS, the memories of laughter shared over glasses of juice, the excitement of what the iftar plates would reveal each day, and the bustling of prayer halls linger forever. Ramadan at RS isn’t just about routine; it’s about friendship strengthened over a shared sense of belonging.