Apart from the public holiday on the voting day on 12 February, the Council of Advisers on Thursday approved a proposal declaring public holiday on 11 February to facilitate voter participation and ensure proper law and order management ahead of the election.
The council gave the approval at its weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office in Dhaka with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
Later on, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy in the afternoon, saying the Council of Advisers approved the proposal made by a high-level meeting held on Wednesday on the election preparations and security issues.
He, however, said the meeting also approved another holiday on 10 February only for workers in industrial zones.
"Workers in industrial zones will receive two days of holiday on 10 and 11 February. Along with the holiday on the voting day on 12 February, there will be a three-day holiday," the press secretary said, adding that holiday on 10 February will be effective exclusively for workers in industrial zones.
He said the rationale behind this proposal was that, as 11 February is the day before the election, many voters who are currently staying in Dhaka, industrial towns, or other major cities would be able to travel back to their respective home areas to cast their votes.
It was also expected that such a measure would help manage law and order more effectively during the election period, said Shafiqul Alam.
An official order regarding these decisions will be issued very soon, he added.
Chief Adviser's Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad was also present at the briefing.
