The government has formally declared a three-day holiday from 20 to 22 October for Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification in this regard on Wednesday.
According to the notification, 20 October will be a holiday on the occasion of Mahanabami under an executive order, while 21 October, the day of Bijoya Dashami, will be observed as a general holiday.
Besides, 22 October which was previously a working day, has also been declared a holiday under an executive order.
As 23 and 24 October fall on Friday and Saturday, the weekly holidays, the extended arrangement will give people five consecutive days off from 20 to 24 October.
However, all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices will remain open on Saturday, 17 October, to compensate for the additional holiday.
The decision to adjust the holiday schedule was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Monday.
According to the gazette, emergency services will remain operational during the holiday. These include electricity, water, gas and other fuel supplies, fire service, port operations, sanitation, telephone and internet services, postal services and transport services related to these activities.
Hospitals and emergency medical services will also remain operational, with doctors and other medical personnel continuing their duties. Vehicles transporting medicines and medical equipment will also remain outside the holiday coverage.
Offices involved in emergency operations will likewise remain open.
Bangladesh Bank will issue necessary instructions to ensure banking activities continue during the holiday, while the Supreme Court will issue directives regarding court proceedings.
For private-sector industries, factories and establishments, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will issue necessary instructions on the general holiday in accordance with the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
