Rejecting the proposal of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, the Cabinet on Monday decided that government offices will remain open on April 9.
As a result, the government offices will enjoy an Eid-ul Fitr and Pahela Baishakh holidays for five days beginning from April 10 to April 14 with a break of two days (from April 8 and 9) after a three-day holiday including weekend and Shab-e-Qadr. The Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on April 7.
The decision came in the regular weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Ministers Office on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
After the Cabinet meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Mahbub Hossain briefed media about the decision of the meeting at Secretariat.
Mahbub Hossain said that the offices will remain open as normal on the two days. However, those who will travel for far away will be able to enjoy two-day optional holiday.
Earlier on Sunday, the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order recommended extending the Eid-ul Fitr holidays by one day, starting from April 9, to facilitate smoother travel for people going to their hometowns.
With Eid-ul Fitr expected to be observed on April 11 this year, the government had already declared April 10 to 12 as Eid vacation days, subject to moon sighting.
Since April 13 falls on a Saturday, one of the two-day weekend days, and April 14 marks Pahela Baishakh, for many the holidays will naturally extend by two days.
