If 18 March is declared a public holiday, government officials and employees will receive a continuous Eid vacation from 17 March to 23 March. Offices will reopen on 24 and 25 March
Holiday makers during last Eid-ul-Fitr at the Kamalapu Railway Station. Photo: Rajib Dhar
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Holiday makers during last Eid-ul-Fitr at the Kamalapu Railway Station. Photo: Rajib Dhar
The government is set to declare 18 March a public holiday by executive order to ease travel for people returning home ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, potentially allowing government employees to enjoy a consecutive seven-day break.
The proposal will be placed at the cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow (5 March), according to sources at the Ministry of Public Administration.
If 18 March is declared a public holiday, government officials and employees will receive a continuous Eid vacation from 17 March to 23 March. Offices will reopen on 24 and 25 March.
This will be followed by the Independence Day public holiday on 26 March and the regular weekend on 27 and 28 March, effectively creating another three-day break after the Eid holidays.
According to sources, this year, the government has already scheduled the Eid-ul-Fitr public holiday for 21 March, assuming Ramadan completes 30 days. In addition, 19 and 20 March, as well as 22 and 23 March, have been declared holidays by executive order before and after Eid.
The Shab-e-Qadr, 17 March, is already a public holiday. Although offices are currently scheduled to remain open on 18 March, the Ministry of Public Administration has proposed declaring it a holiday through an executive order.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity today (4 March) urged the government to announce a holiday on 18 March to ensure a safe and comfortable Eid journey.
In a statement sent to the media, the organisation said around 15 million people are expected to leave the capital ahead of Eid. However, due to transport shortages, limited station and road infrastructure, and management constraints, ensuring safe and smooth travel for such a large number of passengers within a short period remains challenging.
It warned that the situation often leads to overcrowding, excessive fare collection, and severe suffering for travellers.
Declaring 18 March, a public holiday would allow people to travel in phases, reducing congestion, road accidents, and overall hardship, it added.
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