The government has announced an additional holiday on 18 March to facilitate smooth travel for homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, giving public servants a continuous seven-day holiday this year.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting on Thursday presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.
After the meeting, Bobby Hajjaj, state minister for Primary and Mass Education, confirmed the announcement to journalists.
Earlier, the government had declared the holiday from 19 to 23 March for the Eid. Combined with the existing Shab-e-Qadr holiday on 17 March and the newly added 18 March, public employees will enjoy a seven-day holiday stretch during the Eid.
The government’s decision aims to ease travel for millions returning to their hometowns for the festival.
The holiday on 18 March was formalised through an executive order. The government had already declared four days of official holiday around the Eid, 19 and 20 March before Eid, and 22 and 23 March after.
Furthermore, if leave is managed after the Eid holiday on 24 and 25 March, government employees could benefit from a 12-day stretch of leave.
This is because 26 March (Thursday) is the Independence Day, followed by the regular weekend on 27 and 28 March.
The exact Eid date 2026 will depend on the sighting of the moon. The observatory date is expected to be 21 March.
