Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has added one more day to the Durga Puja break. Government employees will now enjoy five days off from 20 to 24 October, after the prime minister declared 22 October a holiday by executive order. The government has also promised better security and more funding for the festival.
Five Days Off From 20 to 24 October
The festival’s main days come with a clear holiday schedule. Maha Nabami on Tuesday, 20 October, is a holiday by executive order, while Bijoya Dashami on 21 October is a general holiday. Offices and courts were originally supposed to stay open on Thursday, 22 October, but the prime minister decided to declare that day a holiday as well. Friday and Saturday are the regular weekly holidays, which complete the five-day break.
Employees in essential services such as hospitals, police, fire service, electricity, gas and water supply will still have to remain on duty.
Higher Grants for Puja Celebrations
Funding is going up this year too. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on 30 September that government funding for puja mandaps has been raised to Tk 5 crore from Tk 4 crore, following the prime minister’s directive. Separately, the prime minister’s special assistant said the allocation from the Prime Minister’s Fund has gone up by Tk 1 crore compared with last year.
Security Plan for the Hindu Community
Safety for minorities is a key part of the announcement. With 33,851 puja mandaps set up across the country, authorities are putting a strong focus on security. The home minister said intelligence agencies have not identified any mandap as particularly vulnerable so far, but law enforcement will stay on heightened alert throughout the celebrations. He also said religious and social harmony has improved significantly compared with previous years.
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What the Prime Minister’s Office Says
Bijon Kanti Sarkar, special assistant to the prime minister on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and ethnic minority affairs, described the extra holiday as a different example of sincerity. He also said the Hindu community would now get more time to celebrate the festival with their families.
Why the Extra Holiday Matters
Durga Puja is the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, and the five-day puja begins on 17 October. For many families, a longer break means time to travel home, visit mandaps and take part in all the rituals without rushing back to work.
With more funding, a longer holiday and visible security measures, the government is sending a message that minority communities can celebrate with confidence. How well these promises hold up on the ground will be watched closely in the coming days.
