The government of Bangladesh has announced an additional public holiday on 18 March to facilitate smooth travel for people returning to their hometowns ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, effectively extending the upcoming Eid vacation for government employees.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
With the new holiday included, employees of government and autonomous institutions will now enjoy a seven-day break during the Eid period.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj confirmed the matter while briefing reporters after the meeting.
He said the move was made to ease pressure on transport services and ensure that people can travel comfortably to celebrate the festival with their families.
According to the minister, 17 March had already been scheduled as a public holiday for Shab-e-Qadr. The government has now declared 18 March a general holiday through an executive order, creating a longer continuous break.
Under the revised arrangement, several days surrounding the Eid festival will be observed as holidays. 21 March has been fixed as the official public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr. In addition, 19 and 20 March will be holidays before Eid, while 22 and 23 March will remain holidays after the festival, all declared through executive orders.
As a result, when combined with the Shab-e-Qadr holiday on 17 March and the newly announced holiday on 18 March, government offices will remain closed for seven consecutive days.
Officials said the extended break is expected to help manage the heavy flow of Eid travellers leaving the capital and other major cities, ensuring smoother journeys for millions of people heading home to celebrate the country’s largest religious festival with their loved ones.
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