Dhaka, March 5 -- The Bangladesh government has announced a public holiday on Mar 18, extending the previously declared holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr.

The matter was raised and approved at a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The holy Eid-ul-Fitr may fall on Mar 21 this year, subject to the sighting of the moon.

The Ministry of Public Administration had already declared a five-day holiday around this date.

Accordingly, the holidays were to extend from Mar 19-23.

Mar 21, the potential date for Eid-ul-Fitr, is a general holiday. Mar 19-20, before Eid, and Mar 22-23, after Eid, have been declared public holidays by executive order. Mar 17 is a public holiday due to Shab-e-qadr. With the newly declared holiday on Mar 18, the Eid break will now last...