Dhaka //

The interim government is canceling eight national days, including 15 August and 7 March, which are observed by the state. It is said that this decision has been taken in the advisory council meeting considering the recent context. In a letter signed by the then Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain on October 7, the concerned department was informed about this decision and instructed to take necessary measures in this regard.

Confirming the matter, the concerned official of the Cabinet Department told the media that a proposal related to cancellation of eight national days has been approved in the meeting of the Advisory Council. The cabinet department will issue a circular canceling these days soon.

According to sources in the Chief Adviser’s office, out of the eight canceled days, five are related to the birth and death of Sheikh Hasina’s family members. Among them, March 17 is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birthday and National Children’s Day, August 5 is Sheikh Hasina’s brother Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal’s birth anniversary, August 8 is Sheikh Hasina’s mother Bangmata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib’s birth anniversary, August 15 is Bangabandhu’s death anniversary and National Mourning Day and October 18 is Sheikh Hasina’s Little Brother Sheikh Russell Day.

Apart from this, the historic March 7, National Constitution Day on November 4 and Smart Bangladesh Day on December 12 are also on the cancellation list.

It is known that UNESCO recognized the historic March 7 speech as a global document on October 30, 2017. After that, the speech given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, 1971 was declared as the historic March 7 day by the Awami League government. The Cabinet Department issued a circular on October 15, 2020 declaring the day as ‘A’ category.

The Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1972. It came into effect on December 16 or Victory Day that year. National Constitution Day was celebrated for the first time on November 4, 2022 in the country.

Sheikh Hasina’s government celebrated National Information and Communication Technology Day for the first time on December 12, 2017 to commemorate the Digital Bangladesh Manifesto. The following year the name of the day was changed to Digital Bangladesh Day. In 2023, it is celebrated as ‘Smart Bangladesh Day’ under category ‘B’.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in his family on August 15, 1975. Then in 1996, when the Awami League came to power, August 15 was observed as the National Day of Mourning. But the BNP-led coalition came to power and canceled the decision to observe National Mourning Day in 2002.

After six years, on July 27, 2008, August 15 was reinstated as the National Day of Mourning in view of the High Court’s order.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birthday and National Children’s Day on March 17, Martyr Captain Sheikh Kamal’s birthday on August 5, Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib’s birthday on August 8 and Sheikh Russell Day on October 18 started gradually after Awami League came to power.

In the context of the downfall of the Awami League government in the popular coup, the interim government came into being on August 8. Nobel Peace Prize winning economist Dr. August 15 came first after the current government took charge under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus. Nationwide discussions started on how the interim government would celebrate the day.

In addition, the chief adviser of the interim government. In a meeting with Muhammad Yunus, various political parties including BNP suggested canceling the national day of mourning and public holidays on August 15. Later in a notification, it was said that the cancellation of the general holiday of August 15 declared on the occasion of the National Mourning Day was approved in the meeting of the Advisory Council based on broad consensus in the dialogue of the political parties with the Advisory Council.