A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking its directives to keep secondary schools closed from the first day of Ramadan until 7 March.
The petition also seeks a stay on the government’s decision to keep schools open during the holy month.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Ilias Ali Mondol submitted the petition on Tuesday with the court’s relevant branch.
The petitioner has requested the High Court to issue a rule asking why the government’s decision should not be declared illegal.
The Education Secretary and the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, among others, have been named as respondents.
Earlier, on 5 January, a legal notice was served on the government demanding the closure of schools during Ramadan.
The notice argued that nearly 98 percent of the country’s population is Muslim and that educational institutions have traditionally remained closed during Ramadan since independence.
It also cited constitutional provisions, stating that the decision to keep schools open goes against established law, custom, and policy as defined under Article 152(1) of the Constitution, while Article 31 requires that all government actions be taken with lawful authority.
The notice further stated that fasting becomes difficult for school-going children due to long hours and travel, and that keeping schools open during Ramadan could worsen traffic congestion in urban areas.
As no action was taken following the legal notice, the writ petition was filed seeking judicial intervention.
