Bangladesh to have 7-day public holiday for upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr

In addition to the previously announced holidays, schools and offices will also be closed on Mar 18

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The Bangladesh government has announced a public holiday on Mar 18, extending the previously declared holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr.

The matter was raised and approved at a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr may fall on Mar 21 this year, subject to the sighting of the moon.

The Ministry of Public Administration had already declared a five-day holiday around this date.

Accordingly, the holidays were to extend from Mar 19-23.

Mar 21, the potential date for Eid-ul-Fitr, is a general holiday. Mar 19-20, before Eid, and Mar 22-23, after Eid, have been declared public holidays by executive order. Mar 17 is a public holiday due to Shab-e-qadr. With the newly declared holiday on Mar 18, the Eid break will now last a total of seven days from Mar 17-23.

Bobby Hajjaj, state minister for primary and mass education, announced the holiday on Mar 18 to the media after exiting the cabinet meeting.

“A decision was made to declare Mar 18 as a holiday,” he said.