Home ministry to propose 3-day Durga Puja holiday

Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, the interim government’s adviser for home affairs, announced plans to recommend a three-day holiday for Durga Puja. 

He made the statement after meeting with Hindu community leaders at his office on Monday, August 12.

Sakhawat addressed the demands raised during the meeting, acknowledging that they were longstanding issues rather than new concerns. He said the leaders agreed that agitation without understanding the context was unhelpful and expressed a willingness to engage in further discussions.

"I see no issue with granting two or three days off for Durga Puja. This holiday benefits not just the Hindu community; many people use public holidays to travel or relax. While I'm not the final decision-maker, I have instructed the secretary to take note of these demands, and I will discuss them at the upcoming cabinet meeting," said Sakhawat

He clarified that while immediate constitutional changes were not feasible, his recommendation for a holiday extension would be seriously considered. 

He assured, “I will strongly recommend at least three days of holiday for Durga Puja, if not three days, then at least two days.”

In addition, he confirmed that tight security measures would be implemented during Janmashtami to ensure safety and prevent any incidents. Instructions will be sent to districts to ensure security during the celebrations.