The country is set to enjoy a five-day holiday on the occasion of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Wednesday (October 7) declaring holidays from October 20 to 22. This will be followed by two weekly holidays.

As October 22 (Thursday), which falls between the Puja holidays and the weekly holidays, has also been declared a holiday, people will get a five-day break. However, government offices will remain open on Saturday, October 17, despite it being a weekly holiday.

The proposal to reschedule the public holidays and holidays declared through executive orders was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Monday (October 5).

According to the government holiday calendar for 2026, October 20 (Tuesday) is an executive-order holiday on the occasion of Mahanabami, while October 21 (Wednesday) is a public holiday for Bijoya Dashami. October 22 was originally a working day. The Cabinet approved a proposal to declare that day a holiday through an executive order as well.

As a result, with October 23 and 24 falling on Friday and Saturday, respectively, people will have the opportunity to enjoy a five-day holiday from October 20 to 24.

According to the notification, October 20, 21 and 22 will be holidays on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, on the occasion of the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja 2026.

All government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices will remain open on Saturday, October 17.

With October 23 and 24 being weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday, respectively, people will be able to enjoy a continuous five-day holiday from October 20 to 24.

Those exempted from the holidays

1. Emergency services, including electricity, water, gas and other fuels, fire service, port operations, cleaning services, telephone and internet services, postal services, and vehicles and workers involved in related services, will remain outside the purview of the holidays.

2. Hospitals, emergency services and workers involved in such services will remain outside the purview of the holidays.

3. Doctors and other workers engaged in medical services, as well as vehicles and workers transporting medicines and medical equipment, will remain outside the purview of the holidays.

4. Offices involved in emergency work will remain outside the purview of the holidays.

5. Bangladesh Bank will issue necessary instructions regarding the continuation of banking operations. The Supreme Court will issue necessary instructions regarding court proceedings.

6. In the case of industrial establishments, factories and other private-sector organisations, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will issue necessary instructions regarding the declaration of public holidays in accordance with the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.

Sun News/ rabbi