The High Court has ordered all government and private lower secondary and secondary schools to remain closed throughout the month of Ramadan 2026.
The order will take effect from February 18.
A High Court bench of and issued the directive on Sunday, February 15.
The order followed a writ petition seeking closure of schools during the holy month of Ramadan. The petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer . Advocate Tanzina Bobby Liza also took part in the hearing.
Earlier, on January 5, Md. Ilias Ali Mondal sent a legal notice to the government. The notice was addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. It asked the authorities to keep schools closed during Ramadan.
The notice stated that 98 percent of Bangladesh’s population are Muslims. It said that since independence, educational institutions have remained closed during Ramadan as a matter of law, custom and policy.
The notice also referred to Article 31 of the Constitution. It says that nothing can be done without law. It further cited Article 152(1), which defines law as including customs and practices that have legal force in Bangladesh.
The writ petition argued that the government’s earlier decision to keep primary and secondary schools open during Ramadan was unconstitutional.
In the notice, the petitioner said young students travel long distances to attend classes. He argued that fasting students may face physical hardship during the month. He also claimed that open schools could create traffic congestion in major cities.
The writ was filed after the legal notice did not receive a response from the authorities.
The High Court’s order now makes it mandatory for the listed institutions to remain closed during the entire month of Ramadan. The government is expected to take steps to implement the directive in line with the court’s decision.
