Govt declares 7-day holiday for Eid-ul-Azha

The government has announced a seven-day holiday on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims.

The holidays will run from 25 May to 31 May. However, government offices will remain open on 23 May (Saturday) and 24 May (Sunday). 

This decision was made at a cabinet meeting held at the secretariat on Thursday night with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.

The Cabinet Division later disclosed the information in a press release.

The cabinet also approved the draft of the "National Public Toilet Policy 2026," tabled by the Local Government Division. 

The policy aims to ensure easy access to hygienic and standard public toilet facilities across the country, improve public health and sanitation standards, and provide user-friendly toilet facilities for women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and marginalised communities.

The policy also emphasises ensuring effective management models and financing to maintain the long-term functionality and sustainability of public toilet systems.

According to the cabinet decision, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Local Government Division, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will undertake necessary initiatives to raise awareness among students about the proper use of hygienic toilets. 

Development projects involving physical infrastructure must include separate toilet facilities for women. 

Construction of septic tanks for waste storage in all toilets has been made mandatory. 

Under no circumstances will toilet waste be allowed to pollute rivers, canals, wetlands, or other water bodies. 

The Local Government Division and the Road Transport and Highways Division will jointly take initiatives to establish separate public toilets for men and women at suitable locations along roads and highways. 

The cabinet also stated that ministries and divisions must prepare time-bound action plans to implement the policy.