The High Court has directed that all government and private lower secondary and secondary schools in Bangladesh remain closed throughout the holy month of Ramadan. The order was issued on Sunday, February 15, 2026, by the bench of Justice Fahmida and Justice Md Asif Hasan. The directive followed a writ petition seeking closure of schools during Ramadan.

The writ was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Iliyas Ali Mondal after he sent a legal notice to the secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on January 5, 2026. The notice argued that 98 percent of Bangladesh’s citizens are Muslims and that closing educational institutions during Ramadan has been a long-standing legal and customary practice since independence. It also cited constitutional provisions stating that no action can be taken without legal authority and that customs with legal force are recognized as law.

The petition further stated that keeping schools open during Ramadan could cause hardship for fasting students and contribute to severe traffic congestion in cities, leading to public inconvenience. The High Court’s order now mandates closure of schools for the entire month.