The government has decided to declare February 11 a public holiday ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, in addition to the holiday already announced for the election day on February 12, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Thursday.

Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital after a meeting of the Advisory Council, Shafiqul said the February 12 election-day holiday had been declared earlier, while the council on Thursday approved February 11 as a general holiday.

He added that leave for workers and employees in industrial areas on February 10 and 11 has also been approved, allowing them three consecutive days off.

Shafiqul said advisers are touring different parts of the country campaigning for the “Yes” vote. Referring to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, “She is a perpetrator of genocide and human rights violations. The people of the country will respond to her ‘No’ campaign on February 12.”

He informed that the Advisory Council meeting discussed 13 agenda items. The draft Rohit Act relating to the Bangladesh Private Export Processing Zones received both in-principle and final approval. Discussions were also held on the Money Laundering Prevention Ordinance.

The council approved in principle and finally the Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation Act-2026. It also approved the draft Gambling Prevention Ordinance-2026, which defines 19 types of gambling and prescribes 15 categories of punishment depending on the offence. The maximum penalty under the ordinance is a fine of Tk 500,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment, aimed at preventing crimes such as match-fixing.

In addition, the government approved the draft Right to Information Ordinance-2026 both in principle and finally. Proposals for signing the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and the National Poultry Development Policy-2026 also received final approval.

Shafiqul said the draft Dhaka Central University Ordinance-2026 was approved, along with the draft Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Retirement Benefits Board Ordinance-2026 and the draft Private Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust Ordinance-2026.

Regarding the Right to Information law, the press secretary said new definitions have been incorporated and provisions included on how reports will be prepared, noting that the law will ensure the preservation of the right to information.