The government has issued fresh guidelines for observing national and international days, including restrictions on ceremonies and official programmes to reduce public expenditure.
The authorities have also declared 7 November, National Revolution and Solidarity Day, a public holiday.
The cabinet division issued the circular on Sunday, replacing an earlier directive issued on 11 March on the observance of national and international days.
Under the new guidelines, decorative arrangements and large-scale cultural programmes should be avoided as far as possible when observing days outside national-level celebrations.
Discussions may be broadcast on radio and television, while seminars and symposiums may be organised on a limited scale. Rallies and processions should be avoided on working days, according to the circular.
Programmes marking an observance week should generally be limited to three days. Authorities must also ensure that government-approved programmes do not disrupt regular office activities.
Discussions and cultural events should, as far as possible, be arranged on holidays or after office hours.
Events that do not require expenditure in cash or kind may be organised on holidays or working days, the circular said.
The directive also advises that bringing officials and employees to Dhaka from outside the capital or from district-level offices to observe any particular day or week should be avoided wherever possible.
To sustain efforts to reduce government expenditure, ministries and divisions have been instructed to combine the observance of similar national and international days on the same date, giving priority to the relevant international day.
Where necessary, ministries and divisions must submit summaries of such proposals to the Cabinet Division for placement before cabinet meetings.
The Cabinet Division has requested all concerned ministries, divisions and organisations to ensure proper implementation of the new guidelines.
