The government has recently published the list of public holidays for 2026 after approval by the Advisory Council. A notification in this regard was issued on Sunday (November 9) from the Rules-6 Branch of the Rules Division of the Ministry of Public Administration.

The notification said that the government has decided that this holiday will be observed in all government and semi-government offices and statutory, autonomous and semi-autonomous organizations in Bangladesh in 2026.

The notification further states that an employee may be allowed to enjoy a total of 3 (three) days of optional leave per year according to his/her own religion and every employee shall obtain prior approval from the competent authority at the beginning of the year to enjoy the 3 (three) days of optional leave determined according to his/her own religion.

In addition, optional holidays may be allowed in conjunction with general holidays, government holidays and weekly holidays by executive order. In cases where the schedules and holidays of offices are regulated by their own laws and regulations or where the jobs of offices, organizations and institutions have been declared essential by the government, the concerned offices, organizations and institutions will declare these holidays considering the public interest in accordance with their own laws and regulations.

Earlier, on Thursday (November 6), the Advisory Council approved the list of government holidays for 2026. On that day, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said that there will be a total of 28 executive orders and general holidays next year. However, 9 of these days fall on Fridays and Saturdays. Therefore, the main holidays in 2026 will be 19 days.