Dhaka: The government has announced a three-day holiday to facilitate voter participation in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette on Sunday detailing the holiday schedule.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the government has designated February 11 and 12 as public holidays to coincide with the election and referendum. This decision aims to support the voting rights of officers and employees in government, semi-government, autonomous, private offices, institutions, and organizations, as well as teachers and staff of both government and private educational institutions. A special holiday has also been announced for workers and employees in industrial areas on February 10.
The Council of Advisers approved the proposal to designate February 11 as an additional public holiday, alongside the voting day on February 12. This approval was granted during the Council’s weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Office, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
CA’s press secretary, Shafikul Alam, clarified that the holiday on February 10 is specifically for industrial zone workers. The rationale behind this decision is to allow voters residing in Dhaka, industrial towns, and other major cities to travel to their hometowns in order to cast their votes, as February 11 precedes the election day. This move is also intended to aid authorities in managing law and order during the election period.