Bangladesh approves 26 public holidays in 2025

However, as nine of these occasions fall on Fridays and Saturdays, the total number of days off is 17

The interim government has announced the approval of 26 public holidays in 2025, with a combination of national days, religious festivals, and executive orders.

However, as nine of these occasions fall on Fridays and Saturdays, the total number of days off for workers is only 17.

There were 22 public holidays in 2024. Two of them fell on Friday and Saturday.

The list of holidays was approved at an interim cabinet meeting on Thursday. Additional details will be available at a press conference by the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing at 6pm.

The agenda of the meeting stated that the initial proposal had included 12 general holidays and 14 holidays by executive order, with nine of them falling on the weekend.

The 12 general holidays include national days and religious festivals from different traditions. Five of them fall on the weekend - three on Friday and two on Saturday.

The 14 days declared holidays by executive order include the Bangla New Year and other religious festivals. Four of them fall on the weekend – two on Friday and two on Saturday.

Employees of the Republic are also entitled to a maximum of three days of optional leave in a year on religious occasions.

Employees belonging to different ethnic minority groups in and outside the Chattogram Hill Tracts area have two days of optional leave on the occasion of the major festival of Baisabi or corresponding social occasion. One of these falls on a weekend.