Three-day holiday this week, but not for everyone

DHAKA: Teachers and students of government and private schools and colleges across the country are set to enjoy a three-day holiday towards the end of this week, combining the weekly weekend break with holidays for National Revolution and Solidarity Day and Shyama Puja.

However, university and madrasa students will not enjoy the same break.

According to the holiday schedule, schools and colleges will remain closed for three consecutive days from Friday, November 6, to Sunday, November 8. Government primary schools will also remain closed during the same period.

The information was found in the 2026 holiday calendar issued by the Secondary and Higher Education Division and a notification from the Ministry of Public Administration.

On October 21, the Ministry of Public Administration’s Rules-6 wing issued a notification declaring a public holiday for National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Meanwhile, Shyama Puja had already been included in the annual holiday calendar for educational institutions.

According to the schedule, National Revolution and Solidarity Day will be observed on Saturday, November 7, while Shyama Puja, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community, will be celebrated on Sunday, November 8.

With the weekly holiday on Friday, November 6, this creates a three-day break for schools and colleges.

According to the Bengali calendar, Shyama Puja will be celebrated on the new moon day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik, corresponding to November 8, 2026.

The holiday has been included in the schedules for government and MPO-listed schools and colleges. As a result, around 65,000 government primary schools across the country will also remain closed.

However, university and madrasa students will not get the same holiday. Universities in Bangladesh generally determine their holidays according to their own academic calendars and decisions of the respective authorities. The published holiday calendars of Dhaka University and Rajshahi University do not mention a holiday for Shyama Puja.

Besides, the holiday calendar published by the Directorate of Technical and Madrasa Education does not include a holiday for Shyama Puja. Consequently, madrasa students are not scheduled to receive the break.

Shyama Puja, also known as Kali Puja, is one of the major religious festivals of Hindus. Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the festival is observed on the new moon night of Kartik, known as Dipannita Amavasya, according to the Hindu calendar.

Shyama Puja is widely celebrated in various parts of India, including West Bengal, Mithila, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam and Tripura. Members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh also celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm.

The festival coincides with Diwali, which is also known as Dipannita, Dipalika, Sukharatri, Sukhasuptika and Yaksharatri. While Lakshmi Puja is observed on this occasion in many parts of India, Bengali, Assamese and Odia communities worship Goddess Kali on the same night.