The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved the  proposed list of 26 holidays including 5-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, 6-day for Eid-ul-Azha and two-day for Durga Puja for 2025 calendar year. The approval came from a meeting of the Council of Advisers chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office. The holidays included 12 general holidays and 14 holidays by the executive order. Nine holidays would coincide weekends (Fridays and Saturdays). Durga Puja holiday: Banks to close nationwide on Oct 10 There will be 12 general holidays including five weekly holidays and holidays for festivals of different religions. Besides, there will be 14 holidays by the executive orders which include four days of weekly holidays for Pahela Baishakh and other important holidays on religious occasions. Meanwhile, the indigenous people will get a three-day holiday on the occasion of Baisabi.

The government at the moment is not considering general holidays like last year to tackle the transmission of coronavirus, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said Monday. “There has neither been any such decision nor discussion [on the issue],” he told reporters at the Secretariat, replying to a question. Also read:Coronavirus: Govt not extending general holidays Bangladesh on Monday recorded its highest-ever daily coronavirus infection (5,181) and 45 deaths. The infection rate has been upward for a number of days now. The government has issued 18 directives to curb the transmission. “We’ll follow these directives for two weeks and see how things turn out. We’ll issue further directives later,” he said. Also read:General holidays only in coronavirus 'Red Zones': State Minister State Minister Hossain said it is possible to prevent Covid-19 if everyone properly follows the health guidelines – wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and washing hands. “Many people haven’t been infected as they’re careful. It’s proven that we can control the coronavirus [situation] if we remain alert,” he said.

The government on Tuesday announced general holidays for the red zones in three more districts considering high-risk of coronavirus infection.

In an effort to prevent transmission of coronavirus and to improve the situation, the government has issued some directive imposing restrictions on the movement of people.

As COVID-19 cases and fatalities continue to rise alarmingly in Bangladesh, the government has taken all necessary preparations to bring some virus hotspots (Red Zone) under lockdown and declaring general holidays there to prevent entry to and exit from those areas.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases and the death toll have been rising since mid-April in the country but it was in May when the situation worsened.

The government’s directives on maintaining social distancing and health guidelines are largely being ignored by passengers and transport operators in Bhola.

Voicing concern over overcrowding in public transports, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the government has surrendered to the public transport syndicate.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the government is pushing the country towards a “grave danger” by reopening everything amid a huge risk of the spread of coronavirus.

Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) has demanded that the government take strict action against extortionists in the transport sector ahead of the resumption of public transport after a two-month break.