9-day vacation this Eid-ul-Fitr as govt declares Apr 3 a public holiday

The decision has been made to ensure smooth travel for Eid holidaymakers, an official says

Government employees will enjoy a 9-day vacation this Eid-ul-Fitr as an executive order has declared Apr 3 a public holiday.

Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary to the chief advisor, says the interim administration made the decision to ensure smooth travel for people on the occasion.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the advisory council on Thursday.

According to the public holiday calendar, the government expects Eid to fall on Mar 31, a Monday.

Mar 29, 30, Apr 1 and 2 have been declared holidays per an executive order.

Mar 28, however, is a Friday and is also the Islamic holy night of Shab-e-Qadr, or Laylat-ul-Qadr.

As a result, all government employees were to receive an Eid vacation for six days from Mar 28 to Apr 2. Apr 3, which falls on a Thursday, is then followed by the weekend.

The newly announced holiday on Apr 3 will add three more days to the vacation, making it nine consecutive days.

The last day of work before the holiday is Mar 27, preceded by Independence Day on Mar 26 - another public holiday. Government employees who take Mar 27 off could add another three-day stretch to their break.

The rules stipulate that taking casual leave between two holidays would render the entire period as casual leave. But employees also have an opportunity to exercise earned leave.