The High Court issued a directive on Sunday ordering all government and non-government lower secondary and secondary schools to remain closed starting from February 18 in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.

While the closure effectively halts regular academic activities, a High Court division bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan clarified that any previously scheduled examinations must proceed as planned during this period.

The ruling follows a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Elias Ali Mondal. Representing the plea alongside Advocate Tanjina Boby Liza, Mondal successfully argued for the closure after initially serving legal notices to the secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

The court’s decision settles a period of uncertainty for students and faculty, ensuring that the religious significance of Ramadan is prioritized while maintaining the integrity of the examination calendar.

This legal intervention underscores the ongoing dialogue between the judiciary and educational authorities regarding the academic calendar during major religious observances.