How Bangladeshi students are adjusting to Ramadan

While adjusting to Ramadan commitments can be difficult for anyone, it can be particularly challenging for practising Muslim students. As the holy month involves additional prayers and religious activities, it adds up to the already packed schedule of the students. However, there is no one common approach taken by local students in this regard, as different individuals try and adjust in their personalised ways based on their specific needs. Following are some commonalities in local students' approaches to adapting to Ramadan and some tips and tricks for tackling this strenuous yet rewarding month. 

Planning ahead 

Many students prepare early for Ramadan by planning their commitments, workloads and lifestyle. This is helpful because if students have backlogged tasks dragged into Ramadan, it might make their life even more challenging. Sarfaraj Mehrab Ahmed, a final year student from the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), explained that he started planning for Ramadan at least two months before. "I do not keep any pending tasks held up, and I chalk out my commitments in a way that I have personal commitments easier on me this month," he explains. 

Planning ahead can be a helpful skill in general - even outside Ramadan. When you plan ahead, you can set specific goals for what you want to achieve in the future. This keeps your mind sharp and motivated towards your objectives. During Ramadan, planning ahead also helps save time for prayers for practising Muslim students.

Managing energy level 

Hridita Islam, a second-year student from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka (IBA, DU), shares, "I try to take less work this month compared to other months." "This helps me balance my energy since I can allocate this additional energy to religious practices," she explains.  

As fasting day is physically demanding, so are the other religious practices in Ramadan - students often face a change in their energy level. To address this, students often lighten up their workloads. On the other hand, Sarfaraj shares that staying hydrated helps him feel less drained and helps him stay consistent with feeling energetic. 

Breaking fast on the roads

Many unique challenges pop up this month, such as increased traffic around evening till iftar. Although unfortunate, this often makes reaching home in time for an iftar difficult. This is especially true in cases where the university has in-person classes till late evening, and the student lives somewhat distant from it. 

Adib Faisal, a fourth-year student from North South University, shares, "My university classes end only two hours before iftar. Although I do not live much far, the traffic becomes so congested that almost every day I have to break my fast with just date and water that I carry in my bag." He explains this is one of the most challenging factors, as he often misses sharing his iftar with family. 

Calibrating external commitments

Many university students have other commitments, such as part-time commitments or freelance work. Students must adjust their other obligations accordingly as the total available hours that students typically dedicate to their activities decrease this month because of devoting that time to religious commitments. 

Hridita explains that her workplace had decreased total work hours, but the ongoing projects remain. As such, she has to cram up more work in less time, which has increased pressure. She said she looks at this as a process of learning, where her efficiency is increasing through challenging times at her workplace. 

Adjusting sleep cycle

As the holy month requires additional prayers and religious activities - students have fewer hours for other tasks. As such, students attempt novel ways to deal with it. Sarfaraj shares, "I do not sleep before sehri and keep working until that time." He explains this helps him get his everyday tasks done. Although it comes at the cost of a changed sleep cycle and is arguably unhealthy, he says this is the only way he completes her deliverables. 

Focusing on the positives

Hridita shares that the sense of community and connection fostered during Ramadan is something she looks forward to each year. "Fasting knowing your friends and family is doing the same as you, especially so in the hope of good outcomes during challenging times brings us closer," she explains.

Despite all the challenges the month comes with, most students happily make it through as they take it as a religious test. The month indeed comes with opportunities to reflect on one's spiritual journey, and students find that it helps them focus on their studies and priorities.