‘Our People Their Stories’ also celebrates our diverse workforce, which is made up of more than 40,000 people who are all different. Different preferences and perspectives. Different heritages and different beliefs.

This month, we share insights from our colleague Ashhab Bari, who joined Downer’s Professional Services business in April 2020. Ashhab known as Ash, works in the Defence Capability team and as a Strategic Writer for the Army – Land Capability Division. In this role, Ash supports project teams with navigating the Capability Life Cycle and is responsible for producing Cabinet and Ministerial submissions for all Land projects.

We caught up with Ash to learn more about Ramadan which is a sacred month for Muslims. As an Inclusion & Belonging Steering Committee member, Ash wanted to share his story to create more awareness and understanding about Ramadan and the Muslim community.

Born in Bangladesh and moving with his family to Australia at the age of 5, Ash grew up in Canberra and studied at the Australian National University. Reflecting on his formative years, Ash says “Canberra was a great place to grow up. The people are friendly and it’s a more relaxed pace of life here.”

As a practising Muslim, Ash observes Ramadan, which is the holy month of fasting observed by Muslims around the world and is an integral part of the religion of Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. This means waking up before sunrise to eat breakfast, known as ‘suhoor’ and then abstaining from eating and drinking anything (even water) until ‘iftar’ which is when Muslims break their fast, after sunset.

In Canberra, it has been interesting for Ash to see Ramadan change over the years with the growth of the Muslim community in his local area. Ash says “Initially, Ramadan meant sharing iftar only with family members. These days, Ramadan can be celebrated more collectively, with communities and mosques hosting open invite iftars and dinners with close friends and family.”

Throughout Ramadan at work, it’s business as usual for Ash.

Ash says colleagues shouldn’t feel bad if they forget that a Muslim colleague is fasting and invite them to lunch. For him personally, he likes to “eat vicariously”. In the office, Ash feels grateful to have a manager and team who respect and accept him for who he is and his beliefs. Ash says “My team understands that practising my beliefs is important for my well-being. They know I’m fasting, so meetings during Ramadan don’t run late into the evening, because I break my fast around 530pm, after sunset.”

It’s these small but thoughtful gestures that make a big impact for Ash. “I appreciate my team and our approach to workplace flexibility. This approach really makes for a more inclusive environment, not just for me but everyone.”

Breaking the fast is a celebrated tradition for many Muslims during Ramadan and in Sydney the iftar night markets have grown increasingly popular for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Ash recalls visiting the night markets and says “thousands of people flock to Lakemba during the month to visit food stalls, selling Turkish coffee, Jordanian baklava, Indonesian laksa, Afghani BBQ skewers, Bengali jilapi and even camel burgers. These stalls stay open between sunset to sunrise, so you can literally be eating until the next day.”

Although it may not sound like it, Ash points out that Ramadan is not just about fasting. He says “it’s a time to reflect, practise self-restraint, and focus on the connections we have with our family, friends, community, and God. During the month, Muslims will try to increase their prayers, donate to charities and help those who are less fortunate.”

The month of Ramadan ends with a day of celebration and festivity called Eid. After morning prayers, families and friends will visit each other for a day of eating and gift-gifting. “Eid, brings food and people together to celebrate after a month of fasting. Ash says, “I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone and am most looking forward to cherishing that first sip of my morning coffee.”