Staff Reporter:
The government has issued a gazette notification declaring a 7-day holiday from 25 to 31 May on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
The notification was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday.
Earlier, at a cabinet meeting held on 7 May, the government approved an executive order declaring 25 May a public holiday for Eid, allowing government employees to enjoy a continuous seven-day break.
The government said the extended holiday was arranged mainly to ensure smoother travel for Eid vacationers.
However, government offices will remain o/pen on 23-24 May, which fall on Saturday and Sunday. As part of the arrangement, government officials and employees will have to work on one weekly holiday.
Subject to the sighting of the moon, the holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival of Muslims, is expected to be celebrated in the country on 28 May.
According to the gazette notification, all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices across the country will remain closed from Monday, 25 May to Sunday 31 May.
The notification also stated that emergency services including electricity, water, gas and other fuel supplies, fire service, port operations, sanitation services, telephone and internet services, postal services and related transport and personnel will remain outside the scope of the holiday.
Hospitals, emergency services and employees associated with those services will also remain exempt from the holiday.
Doctors, healthcare workers and vehicles transporting medicines and medical equipment will also continue operating during the Eid vacation.
Offices involved in emergency activities will also remain outside the holiday coverage.
The notification said Bangladesh Bank will issue necessary instructions regarding banking operations during the holiday period, while the Supreme Court of Bangladesh will provide directives regarding court activities.
It also said the Ministry of Labour and Employment will issue necessary instructions regarding public holidays for private sector industries and factories in accordance with the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
