Government Issues New List of National Days; Eight Awami-Era Observances Scrapped
This directive, released by the Cabinet Division, formally replaces the previous list and confirms the permanent cancellation of eight major national days established during the Awami League administration. The government stated that the decision aims to prevent the misuse of state resources and to remove politically motivated observances.
Cancelled National Days
The following eight days have been removed from the official list of national observances:
-
March 7: Commemorating the historic speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
-
March 17: Birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day.
-
August 5: Birth anniversary of Sheikh Hasina’s brother, Captain Sheikh Kamal.
-
August 8: Birth anniversary of Sheikh Hasina’s mother, Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib.
-
August 15: Death anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Mourning Day.
-
October 18: Sheikh Russel Day.
-
November 4: National Constitution Day.
-
December 12: Smart Bangladesh Day.
New Categorization and Additions
The new circular prioritizes the legacy of the 2024 mass uprising. August 5 has been designated as "July Mass Uprising Day" (classified under the high-priority Category-A). Additionally, July 16—the day student leader Abu Sayeed was martyred in Rangpur—has been declared as "July Martyrs' Day" to be observed nationwide.
Under the revised system, days are divided into three distinct classes:
-
Category-A (17 Days): These are top-tier national events celebrated with full state honors and significant public involvement.
-
Category-B (37 Days): Observances related to social, environmental, or sectoral issues, with limited state funding capped at 50,000 BDT.
-
Category-C (35 Days): Specialized or symbolic days observed by relevant departments without any additional government budget allocation.
The Cabinet Division emphasized that any attempts by ministries to organize repetitive or low-impact observances would be strictly discouraged. This reform is part of the broader institutional cleansing of the "fascist legacy" as the 13th National Parliament begins its legislative work.
