Bangladesh announces five-day Durga Puja holiday

The government has decided to extend the Durga Puja holidays, providing employees with five consecutive days of leave. Following a policy decision to add an extra day via executive order, the holiday period is expected to run from Tuesday, October 20, to Saturday, October 24.

The schedule includes an executive holiday for Mahanavami on October 20, the scheduled public holiday for Bijaya Dashami on October 21, an additional executive holiday on October 22, and the regular weekend on October 23 and 24. If the October 22 holiday is declared a national holiday, it will apply to government, semi-government, autonomous, and private offices. Essential services such as electricity, water, gas, fire services, healthcare, and transport will remain operational.

In addition to the extended leave, the government has increased financial grants for the festival. The allocation for puja mandaps has been raised from 4 crore to 5 crore taka. Furthermore, grants for Buddhist religious festivals, including Prabarna Purnima and Kathin Chivara Dana, have been increased from 2 crore to 3 crore taka.