A seven-day government holiday begins on Monday as the country prepares for Eid-ul-Azha, one of the largest religious festivals in the Muslim calendar.
The break will see government offices, courts and many private institutions closed, triggering a major movement of people leaving cities"particularly Dhaka"for their hometowns to celebrate the festival with family.
Eid-ul-Azha is expected to be observed on May 28, according to official scheduling.
The government announced the extended holiday earlier on May 7 following a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The leave will run from May 25 to May 31, with offices set to reopen on June 1.
However, emergency medical services will remain operational throughout the holiday period. Health workers treating measles patients and those engaged in emergency care have been excluded from the leave to ensure uninterrupted services.
Officials also confirmed that government offices remained open on May 23 as part of the adjusted schedule ahead of the holiday period.
The annual Eid break typically triggers one of the country’s largest population movements, with transport services and highways expected to experience heavy pressure in the coming days.
