Gazette issued for general holiday over Khaleda Zia's death

The government has issued a gazette notification declaring a general holiday on Wednesday by an executive order over the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

The Public Administration Ministry issued the notification on Tuesday afternoon, saying that all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices will remain closed during the holiday.

However, it said, emergency services such as electricity, water, gas and other fuels, fire service, port activities, cleaning activities, telephone and internet services, postal services and vehicles and workers engaged in these related services will remain out of the purview of the holiday.

Besides, hospitals and offices engaged in emergency services and employees associated with these services will also remain out of the purview of this leave, the notification said.

Doctors and staff engaged in medical services, and vehicles and staff carrying medical equipment, including medicines, will be excluded from the scope of the holiday, it added.

According to the notification, Bangladesh Bank will issue necessary instructions regarding the continuation of banking activities, while the Supreme Court will issue necessary instructions regarding the proceedings of the court.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, widely regarded as an uncompromising leader for democracy in Bangladesh, breathed her last at the age of 80 this morning while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the city.

Apart from declaring a one-day general holiday, the government also declared a three-day state mourning starting from Wednesday.