Dhaka //

The government has rescheduled the holiday for the upcoming autumn Durga Puja. The holiday period will run from October 20 to October 22. However, government offices will remain open on Saturday, October 17, to compensate for this.

Simultaneously, the government has declared a general holiday on November 7 every year to mark ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day.’ This day will be observed as a ‘Category A’ day, in accordance with the Cabinet Division’s circular regarding the observance of national and international days.

These decisions were taken on Monday during the 23rd Cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat, presided over by the Prime Minister. The decisions were later announced via a press release from the Cabinet Division.

According to the government holiday schedule, a holiday had already been declared via executive order for *Navami* on Tuesday, October 20. The following day, Wednesday, October 21, is a general holiday for *Bijoya Dashami*. Now, a holiday has also been declared via executive order for Thursday, October 22. Consequently, the Durga Puja holiday will span from October 20 to October 22. As October 23 and 24 fall on the weekend (Friday and Saturday), the approval of the holiday for October 22 results in a continuous five-day break from October 20 to October 24. Offices will remain open on the preceding Saturday (October 17) to make up for this.

However, essential services remain exempt from such holiday arrangements. These include electricity, water, gas, and other fuel supplies; fire services; port operations; sanitation activities; telephone and internet services; postal services; and the vehicles and personnel associated with these services. Additionally, hospitals and emergency services, medical professionals and staff, vehicles and personnel transporting medicines and medical equipment, and offices involved in emergency work are exempt from the holiday. Bangladesh Bank issues necessary directives regarding the continuation of banking operations during such holidays, while the Supreme Court issues directives concerning court proceedings. These details will be clearly specified when the official notification is issued. A decision was made at the Cabinet meeting to observe a public holiday every year on November 7, marking ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day.’ According to the Cabinet Division’s circular regarding the observance of national and international days, November 7 will be celebrated as a ‘Category A’ day. Consequently, November 7 will continue to be a public holiday in the coming years.

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