The government has declared a three-day holiday, aiming to facilitate voter participation in 13th parliamentary election.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette in this regard on Sunday.

According to the gazette, the government has declared public holidays on February 11 and 12 (Wednesday and Thursday) on the occasion of the election and the referendum to facilitate the exercise of voting rights by officers and employees working in all government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices, institutions and organisations as well as teachers, officers and employees of government and private educational institutions and holding of the election.

It said a special holiday has been declared for workers and employees in industrial areas on February 10 (Tuesday).

The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved a proposal to declare February 11 a public holiday, in addition to the public holiday on the voting day on February 12, to help voters participate and ensure law and order management in an effective manner.

The approval was given at the Council’s weekly meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair.

CA’s press secretary Shafikul Alam said February 10 will apply only to industrial zone workers as a holiday.

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He said the reason behind the decision was to allow voters currently residing in Dhaka, industrial towns, and other major cities to travel to their respective hometowns to cast their votes, as February 11 falls on the day before the election.

The decision is also expected to help authorities manage law and order more effectively during the election period, Alam said.