Supreme Court stays Ramadan school closure

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Monday stayed a High Court order directing the government to keep all secondary schools across the country closed throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
Justice Farah Mahbub, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
According to the order published on the Supreme Court's website, the stay will remain in force until the filing of a regular leave-to-appeal petition.
Earlier on Sunday, a High Court bench, upon hearing a writ petition, had asked the government to keep all secondary schools nationwide closed from the beginning of Ramadan.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Elyas Ali Mondol filed the writ petition in January, arguing that the government's decision to keep secondary schools (classes VI-X) closed from March 8, while madrasas were to close from February 15, was discriminatory.
According to him, the High Court brought forward the vacation for secondary schools to remove discrimination and to respect religious practices during Ramadan.
He argued that fasting students in classes VI-X face difficulties attending school during the holy month.
Prior to filing the petition, legal notices were served on the secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on the same issue.
Additional Attorney General Aneeq R Haque represented the state at the Chamber Court hearing of the apex court.

bikashju@gmail.com