Supreme Court Stays Order to Close Schools During Ramadan

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Monday stayed a High Court order that directed the closure of public and private lower secondary and secondary schools for the entire month of Ramadan.

The stay was issued by Appellate Division chamber justice Farah Mahbub on February 16. Additional Attorney General Barristers Anik and Huq represented the state during the hearing.

Earlier, on February 14, a High Court bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Asif Hasan ordered the closure of all public and private lower secondary and secondary schools throughout Ramadan.

The High Court order followed a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Ilias Ali Mondal, who had earlier sent a legal notice to the government on January 5 seeking school closures during Ramadan. The notice was addressed to the secretaries of the education ministry and the primary and mass education ministry.

The petition argued that most of Bangladesh’s population is Muslim and that schools have traditionally remained closed during Ramadan since independence. It claimed that keeping schools open violates constitutional provisions recognizing customs with the force of law.

The petition also stated that long school hours could discourage fasting among young students and create additional traffic pressure in cities during Ramadan.

With the Appellate Division’s stay, the High Court order has been put on hold pending further proceedings.