The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a government decision for running schools in the month of Ramadan.
After staying the High Court order, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cleared the way for the government to keep the primary and secondary schools across the country open for the first 10 and 15 days respectively during the month of Ramadan.
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan stayed the High Court decision that halted the government order for keeping all the primary and secondary schools across the country open in the month of Ramadan.
The four other judges of the bench are Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim.
The primary and secondary schools will remain open from today in line with the government decision following the Appellate Division order, lawyers concerned said.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin appeared for the state while Senior lawyer AKM Faiz argued for the writ petitioner who challenged the government notifications for keeping the schools open during Ramadan.
During the hearing, Attorney General cited many examples before the court saying that educational institutions were not closed for whole Ramadan in any Muslim-majority country.
Opposing his argument, petitioner lawyer AKM Faiz told the court that Bangladesh is not like other countries in the world. If schools are open during Ramadan, both parents and students face problems. When educational institutions are open, traffic jams are created, he added.
On March 10, the High Court said primary and secondary schools across the country will remain shut throughout the month of Ramadan.
The HC bench comprising Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu came up with the order following a writ petition filed by the guardian of a student.
On February 8, the government amended the holiday list for educational institutions keeping the regular activities of secondary schools open for 15 days during Ramadan.
In its notification, the Education Ministry said regular academic activities at secondary schools and colleges will continue for 15 days from March 11 to 25 and from March 10 to 24, respectively.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said that classes will be held in primary schools for the first 10 days of Ramadan.
Advocate Md Ilias Ali Mandal, a guardian, had on February 25 filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging legality of two orders of the government.
Month long holy Ramadan begun across the country from Tuesday and the schools were closed on the first day of Ramadan following the chamber judges court order. But, from today the schools will remain open as per the apex court order.
Schools, colleges asked to reopen ignoring heat wave
Heatwave about to strike country with renewed vengeance