The Cabinet of Bangladesh on Monday (October 31, 2022) approved the proposed list of 22 holidays for the 2023 calendar year, but eight holidays would coincided with weekends (Fridays and Saturdays). Read more: Cabinet sends back National Adaptation Plan on climate change for modification The approval came from the regular cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. There will be 14 general holidays and the remaining eight days by the executive order of the government, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Read more: Govt office hours rescheduled to 9am-4pm

The government has announced April 17 as a public holiday at  Mujibnagar in Meherpur district marking the historic Mujibnagar Day.  The Public Administration Ministry  issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday. The  holiday has been declared as part of the national programme organised by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. Also read: Mujibnagar govt played historic role in freedom struggle of Bangladesh: Envoy On April 17 in 1971, senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala, a mango orchard, which was later named as Mujibnagar, in Meherpur district to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh in the absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was arrested and flown to Pakistan after Pakistan military had cracked down on the Bangalees on the night of March 25, 1971. Bangabandhu was declared the first President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, while Vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam became the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu. Tajuddin Ahmad was appointed the first Prime Minister, while Khandoker Moshtaque Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman were named cabinet members.

The cabinet on Thursday approved the proposed list of 22 holidays for the 2022 calendar year, but six holidays would be coincided with weekends (Fridays and Saturdays). The holidays include 14 general holidays and eight more that will come with the executive orders of the government. The approval came from the virtual Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Also read: E-commerce firms must get registered within 2 months: Cabinet The Prime Minister joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban, while other cabinet members from the Bangladesh Secretariat. Three days each among 14 general holidays and eight other public holidays would be coincided with weekends, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting. Besides, the government employees can enjoy three optional holidays on the occasion of religious festivals, he said. Also read: 8 projects get go-ahead of Cabinet Purchase Committee Similarly, the employees from various small ethnic groups will have the scope to enjoy two optional holidays on the occasion of their major social festivals.

The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi will be observed on Wednesday, marking the day of birth and passing away of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), with religious festivity and fervour. On this day in 570, the 12th of Rabiul Awal of the Hijri calendar, Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Makkah with divine blessings and messages of peace for mankind. He also passed away on the same day. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages greeting the people of the country and the Muslims across the globe on this occasion. Read: President hosts doa mahfil on Eid-e-Miladunnabi Different government and non-government organisations, including the Islamic Foundation (IF), have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day. Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Radio will broadcast special programmes highlighting the importance of the day. The day is a public holiday.

The Hindu community of the country celebrated Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, on Monday with due religious fervour. According to Hindu religion, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the universe as Lord Krishna in the prison of Raja Kangsa on this day, the eighth of “Shukla Pakkha” (bright fortnight) in the month of Bhadra in Dwapara Yuga in order to protect “Dharma” from the hands of devils. Sri Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura to which Krishna’s parents belonged. The day was a public holiday. Read: Janmashtami observed President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted the members of the Hindu community on the eve of the occasion. National dailies published special articles while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations also aired special programmes highlighting different aspects of the eventful life of Lord Krishna. READ: BNP greets Hindu community on Janmashtami

The historic May Day will be observed on Saturday as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic which has rendered millions of workers jobless across the world in recent months. In normal times, the day is a public holiday in Bangladesh and marked with a slew of events. But there will be no outdoor event this year, like 2020, as the country battles the second wave of the virus. Bangladesh is going through a lockdown that will last until May 5. Like every year, newspapers will publish supplements while radio and television channels will air special programs to emphasise the significance of this day. May Day, also called the International Workers' Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of the working class in Chicago for an eight-hour workday. This year, the theme for this historic day in Bangladesh is "Sramik-Malik Nirbisesh, Mujib Borshe-Gorbo Desh” (roughly translated reads: workers and employers will join hands to build the country in the Mujib Year). President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages ahead of the day. President Hamid called upon the owners of mills and factories to assist the government in standing by the vulnerable workers bearing the brunt of the pandemic. He paid gratitude to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for struggling throughout his life for the underprivileged people. "Bangladesh received ILO membership soon after independence in 1972 under the bold leadership of Father of the Nation and ratified 29 conventions including six core convention of ILO,” he added. Prime Minister Hasina also remembered the role of Bangabandhu in establishing the rights of the exploited and working class people. "Bangabandhu formulated labour policy 1972 in order to establish an exploitation free and equal society. He nationalised the mills and factories to strengthen the economy while ensuring the rights of the workers," she said. She said her government is working relentlessly to establish the rights of workers. "Our government has established 100 special economic zones, which will generate employment for more than one crore people," she said. "We allocated Tk 8,600 crore for workers’ wage to combat the pandemic.” The Prime Minister said the government has allocated Tk 50 crore to Labour Directorate to implement the social safety programme for the unemployed and distressed workers. Ten workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in Chicago demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift on May 1, 1886. The authorities were eventually forced to accept the workers' demand which resulted in an eight-hour day universally. On July 14, 1889, an international workers' rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers' sacrifice. The day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day since 1890.

  The government has rescheduled the public holiday for the upcoming Shab-e-Barat to March 30 instead of March 29. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday. The date was changed as the holiday for the religious event is fixed considering the sighting of the new moon. Also read: Shab-e-Barat to be observed on March 29 Earlier on March 14, the National Moon Sighting Committee decided to observe the Shab-e-Barat on the night of March 29 as the Shaban moon was not sighted in the country on that day. The announcement was made after analysing data collected from the district administrations, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and Space Research and Remote Sensing Institute. Shab-e-Barat is observed on the 15th night of the Arabic month of Shaban. Muslims offer special prayers, recite the Quran, and take part in other religious rituals.

The historic May Day is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe on Friday with due respect.   May Day, also known as the International Workers' Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, USA at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday.   The day is a public holiday.   Newspapers published supplements while radio and television channels are airing special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.   On May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift. On the height of agitation, the authorities had to accept the workers' demand and the eight-hour day has been introduced universally.   On July 14, 1889, an international workers' rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers' sacrifice and achievement and since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day.   President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion of the historic May Day.   However, all May Day programmes have been cancelled  due to the global coronavirus pandemic.