Dhaka:The government has announced a three-day holiday for Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Hindu community, scheduled from October 20 to 22.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette on Wednesday detailing the holiday schedule. October 20 will be observed as a holiday for Mahanabami under an executive order, while October 21, the day of Bijoya Dashami, will be a general holiday. Additionally, October 22, initially a working day, has been declared a holiday by executive order.
Since October 23 and 24 fall on Friday and Saturday, the weekly holidays, citizens will enjoy five consecutive days off from October 20 to 24. To compensate for the additional holiday, government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and private offices will operate on Saturday, October 17.
The decision to alter the holiday schedule received approval during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Monday. The notification specifies that emergency services such as electricity, water, gas, fuel supplies, fire service, port operations, sanitation, telephone and internet services, postal services, and related transport services will not be affected by the holiday.
Hospitals and emergency medical services will continue their operations, with doctors, medical staff, and vehicles transporting medical supplies also exempt from the holiday. Offices involved in emergency work will remain open as well.
Bangladesh Bank will provide necessary instructions to maintain banking functions during the holiday, while the Supreme Court will issue directives for court proceedings. The Ministry of Labour and Employment will offer guidance to private-sector industries, factories, and establishments regarding the general holiday as per the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006.