Week-long Eid holidays begin

Many people left Dhaka right after the office hours on Monday by launch, bus and train to reach their ancestral homes for the holidays

.

After spending the night of Lailat-ul Qadr in prayers, people working in different sectors and their families have started travelling to their ancestral homes to see friends and relatives.

Many people are leaving Dhaka on Tuesday to spend the seven-day Eid holidays with their loved ones. Some others are making meticulous plans to enjoy the holidays in Dhaka with their families.

Many people left Dhaka right after the office hours on Monday by launch, bus and train to reach their ancestral homes as soon as possible.

Therefore, the rush at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal and long-haul bus terminals began to intensift from Monday evening.

By declaring the single working day between Lailat-ul Qadr and the Eid break as a holiday by executive order, the government extended the break to seven days.

Separate instructions have been issued for increasing security around this Eid, reducing inconvenience to make Eid journeys pleasant, limiting bus fares, keeping import and export activities running during the Eid holidays and keeping business operations and banking activities running.

To ensure pleasant Eid travel, the government said in a message: “Life is more important than speed–drive slow, stay safe; use helmets, seatbelts and prevent accidents; do not drive while feeling tired or sleepy.”

"Do not use mobile phones while driving; do not travel on bus roofs or use risky transports.”

On Sunday acting DMP chief Md Sarwar outlined security plans for Eid travel and the safety of the capital during the holidays.

He said preparations had already begun to ensure smooth Eid journeys for people leaving Dhaka and to maintain security in the city while many homes remain empty.

The DMP has taken “adequate security measures” so city residents can celebrate Eid “safely and without worry”, according to him.

Addressing residents, Sarwar said: “Do not leave cash, gold ornaments or important documents unprotected. Leave them at the homes of your relatives.”

Asked what people without relatives in Dhaka should do, he said: “They can seek our help if necessary. In that case, they can keep them at the police station.”

Instructions have also been issued for emergency bank transactions during the holiday.

Bangladesh Bank said on Monday that special branches of banks in industrial areas will remain open on Mar 18 and Mar 19, except for on Eid day.

According to the instructions, banks in industrial areas will remain open from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday, Mar 18 and Thursday, Mar 19. However, banking transactions with customers will continue from 10am to 1pm.

There will be a prayer break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15pm to 1:30pm.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has ordered all industrial factory owners to clear outstanding wages and festival bonuses before the start of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

His order came at a high-level meeting on Saturday organised to draw the measures in addressing the labour dissatisfaction in the readymade garments industry and other sectors.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) were present at the meeting.

To ensure compliance, the ministry will compile a list of "at-risk" factories categorised by parliamentary constituency, the minister said.

"Lawmakers will communicate directly with factory management to ensure swift payment of arrears and bonuses," he said.

He also expressed frustration with certain banks, including United Commercial Bank Ltd, Trust Bank, and Premier Bank, for allegedly delaying loans despite instructions from Bangladesh Bank.

He ordered immediate coordination with these institutions to secure funds for factory owners.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has given directives to authorities to keep customs houses and excise stations, including the Chittagong Port, open during the Eid holidays and weekends, aside from Eid day.

The NBR has also extended the deadline for submitting online VAT returns of business entities for the February 2026 tax period to Mar 29, citing the long Eid holidays and slower e-VAT services ahead of the break.

Normally, monthly VAT returns must be submitted by the 15th of the following month.

It said the deadline had been extended by 14 days covering the holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr and Independence Day.

Bangladesh is likely to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Mar 21, subject to the sighting of the moon.