Educational institutions will remain closed from the first day of Ramadan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, overturning an Education Ministry decision to announce the holidays from the 10th day of the religious fasting.
The Prime Minister
issued the directive at a cabinet meeting on Monday.
Based on the appearance of the moon, Ramadan is expected to commence sometime in the end of June.
The cabinet also decided to recalibrate office hours from 9am to 3:30pm during this time.
The minister, unwilling to be named, said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid had decided to let schools and colleges close from the 10th day of Ramadan.
But Hasina pointed to difficulties women faced in dropping and picking up children during Ramadan as they were extra busy at home.
“Schools and colleges should be closed from the first day of Ramadan,” the minister quoted Hasina having said.
She directed the education and primary and mass education ministers to announce vacations in public and private educational institutions from the first day of Ramadan.
Education ministry officials said they would start work following the prime minister’s order.
