Govt may declare 18 March a holiday to ease Eid travel
If 18 March is declared a holiday, government staff will get a seven-day Eid break
The government is set to propose an executive order declaring 18 March a public holiday to facilitate the movement of people returning to their hometowns ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The proposal is expected to be presented at today's (5 March) cabinet meeting.
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.
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Under the current schedule, the government has designated 21 March as the official holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, following the 30-day Ramadan period. Additionally, four days of executive order holidays have already been declared: 19-20 March and 22-23 March.
On 17 March (Tuesday), a holiday is scheduled for Shab-e-Qadr, while offices are set to open on 18 March (Wednesday).
The Ministry of Public Administration has proposed declaring 18 March a holiday through an executive order, and sources say the proposal is likely to be approved during today's cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, in a statement released yesterday (4 March), the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity urged the government to declare March 18 a holiday to ensure a safe and smooth Eid journey
The statement noted that nearly 1.5 million people are expected to leave the capital for their hometowns, but overcrowded transport, limited road and station infrastructure, and weak management make smooth travel difficult. Without a holiday on 18 March, passengers could face overcharging, delays, and severe inconvenience.
If approved, the executive order will allow people to travel to rural areas in stages, reducing congestion, road accidents, and hardships.
With 18 March added as a holiday, government employees will enjoy a seven-day continuous Eid break from 17 March to 23 March.
Offices will reopen on 24 March and 25, followed by the Independence Day holiday on 26 March and the weekly weekend on 27-28 March, giving government workers an additional three consecutive days off after Eid.
