Bangladesh 2026 Public Holidays

New Year's Day

1 January. In many countries the day off moves to the following Monday when it falls on a weekend.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the most widely observed public holiday in the world — a day off in almost every country that uses the Gregorian calendar, regardless of religion. Several countries extend the break to 2 January, and some in East Asia keep both the Gregorian and a separate lunar new year.

Election Day

Set by each election — not an annual date.

In a number of countries polling day is a public holiday so that voting does not conflict with work. These dates do not repeat annually and cannot be projected into future years.

Election Day Holiday

Set by each election — not an annual date.

In a number of countries polling day is a public holiday so that voting does not conflict with work. These dates do not repeat annually and cannot be projected into future years.

Maha Shivaratri

The fourteenth night of the dark fortnight of Phalguna, in February or March.

The great night of Shiva, kept with fasting and all-night vigil. A public holiday in India, Nepal and Mauritius.

Ash Wednesday

46 days before Easter Sunday — the Wednesday after Carnival.

The first day of Lent in Western Christianity, marked by the imposition of ashes. Rarely a full public holiday; in much of Latin America and southern Europe it is a half day closing out Carnival.

Holi

The full moon of Phalguna, in February or March.

The spring festival of colours, marking the victory of good over evil and the end of winter. A public holiday in India, Nepal, Suriname and Guyana.

Eid ul Fitr

1 Shawwal, the day after Ramadan ends. The date depends on a moon sighting and is often confirmed only a day or two in advance.

The festival that ends Ramadan, and the largest holiday of the year across the Muslim world. Most countries grant two to three consecutive days; Indonesia and Malaysia extend it further with collective leave. Because the date is set by moon sighting, calendars published far in advance are provisional.

Independence Day

The anniversary of the country's independence — a different date in every country.

The national day of a country that gained independence from another state, and typically its most important secular holiday. Over a hundred countries observe one, on dates ranging across the whole calendar.

Maundy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter Sunday.

Commemorates the Last Supper. A full public holiday across the Nordic countries, Latin America and the Philippines; a half day in some others; an ordinary working day in most of the rest.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter Sunday.

Commemorates the crucifixion, and is the most widely observed Christian public holiday after Christmas. Together with Easter Monday it produces a four-day weekend in much of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America. In several countries it also carries trading or entertainment restrictions beyond the day off itself.

Holy Saturday

The Saturday before Easter Sunday.

The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Falling on a Saturday, it is a formal public holiday in only a handful of countries and an observance in most.

May Day

1 May, or in some countries the first Monday of May.

1 May, combining an older spring festival with International Workers' Day. The United Kingdom and Ireland move the day off to the first Monday of the month.

Eid al-Adha Holiday

The days following Eid al-Adha.

The additional days off attached to Eid al-Adha, which is commonly a three- or four-day break.

Eid al-Adha

10 Dhu al-Hijjah, about seventy days after Eid al-Fitr, confirmed by moon sighting.

The Feast of Sacrifice, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Alongside Eid al-Fitr it is one of the two principal Islamic holidays, and is observed with several days off in most Muslim-majority countries.

Muharram

1 Muharram — the Islamic new year.

The first day of the Islamic year. A public holiday in most Muslim-majority countries, though a quiet one — it is a day of remembrance rather than celebration.

Ashura

10 Muharram.

A day of mourning for Shia Muslims, commemorating the death of Husayn at Karbala, and a day of voluntary fasting for Sunnis. A public holiday in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Bahrain and several North African countries.

Janmashtami

The eighth day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada, in August or September.

Marks the birth of Krishna, observed with night vigils and fasting.

Victory Day

8 or 9 May in Europe; other dates elsewhere.

Marks the end of the Second World War in Europe. Western Europe keeps 8 May; Russia and most post-Soviet states keep 9 May, because the surrender took effect after midnight Moscow time.

Christmas Eve

24 December.

The evening of 24 December is the main celebration in the Nordics, Germany, Poland and much of Central Europe, where gifts are exchanged that night rather than on Christmas morning. Often a half day or a de facto day off rather than a statutory holiday.

Christmas Day

25 December. The day off moves to the following weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The most widely observed public holiday after New Year's Day, a day off in the great majority of countries including many with no Christian majority, where it functions as a secular end-of-year holiday. Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar keep it on 7 January instead.

Boxing Day

26 December, moving to the next weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The second day of Christmas, a public holiday across the Commonwealth and much of Europe. Known as St Stephen's Day in Ireland, Italy and Central Europe, and as the Second Day of Christmas in the Nordics and the Netherlands.

New Year's Eve

31 December.

The last day of the year. A full public holiday in a minority of countries; far more often a half day, a de facto early finish, or simply a marked date on which people still work.