The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has directed that academic activities for students of class six to ten remain suspended nationwide during the upcoming month of Ramadan, beginning February 18.
The order was issued on Sunday by a High Court Division bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Md. Asif Hasan following a preliminary hearing on a writ petition.
The court also instructed the Education Secretary to implement the directive and issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why academic activities for these classes should not remain closed during Ramadan.
In a separate order, the court issued another rule questioning the legality of a notification by the Ministry of Education concerning the closure of madrasas and junior secondary schools during the holy month.
Advocate Ilias Ali Mondol appeared for the petitioner, assisted by Advocates Tanjina Bobby Liza and Md. Bayezid.
Earlier, on January 5, petitioner Ilias Ali Mondol served a legal notice on the government regarding the matter. After receiving no response, he filed a writ petition with the High Court on January 20.
The legal notice stated that the majority of Bangladesh’s population is Muslim and that educational institutions have traditionally remained closed during Ramadan since independence. It argued that this long-standing practice constitutes established law, custom, and policy.
Citing Articles 31 and 152(1) of the Constitution, the notice contended that any government decision to keep primary and secondary schools open during Ramadan would be unconstitutional.
The notice further argued that young students attending school throughout the day while fasting may experience physical strain, potentially discouraging them from observing the religious practice. It also claimed that keeping schools open during Ramadan could exacerbate traffic congestion in urban areas, causing public inconvenience.
Following the government’s failure to respond to the notice, the writ petition was subsequently filed before the High Court.