Public Holidays in Bangladesh
Statutory public holidays in Bangladesh, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Bangladesh at a glance
Bangladesh has one of the fullest public holiday calendars in the world, with more than twenty national days covering Bengali, Islamic and Hindu festivals alongside national commemorations. Dates move with both the Bengali and lunar Hijri calendars.
Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali new year in mid-April, is the most colourfully celebrated, while Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the longest breaks.
Bangladesh public holidays 2025
Bangladesh has 17 public holidays in 2025 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Sha'ban | Feb 15Sat | National |
| Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day | Feb 21Fri | National |
| Independence Day | Mar 26Wed | National |
| Jumu'atul-Wida; Laylat al-Qadr | Mar 28Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 31Mon | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Apr 1Tue | National |
| Eid al-Fitr | Apr 2Wed | National |
| Bengali New Year's Day | Apr 14Mon | National |
| May Day | May 1Thu | National |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 7Sat | National |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 8Sun | National |
| Eid al-Adha | Jun 9Mon | National |
Showing 12 of 17 public holidays for 2025.
Major cities in Bangladesh
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Bangladesh.
Dhaka
A vast, dense capital of rickshaws, river ports and Mughal-era gardens on the Buriganga.
Chittagong
The country's main seaport, backed by the green hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Khulna
The gateway to the Sundarbans and a centre of the shrimp and jute trades.
Rajshahi
A silk city on the Padma known for mangoes and the nearby ruins of Paharpur.
Sylhet
A tea-growing city in the hills with strong ties to the British Bangladeshi diaspora.
Cox's Bazar
A beach town beside what is claimed to be the world's longest natural sea beach.
Top attractions in Bangladesh
The places that draw most visitors to Bangladesh.
Sundarbans
The largest mangrove forest on earth and the last stronghold of the Bengal tiger.
Paharpur
The ruins of Somapura Mahavihara, a vast seventh-century Buddhist monastery.
Cox's Bazar Beach
A 120 km sweep of sand on the Bay of Bengal, backed by fishing villages.
Ahsan Manzil
The pink former residence of the Nawabs of Dhaka on the riverfront.
Lalbagh Fort
An unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort complex with gardens and a tomb.
Srimangal
Rolling tea gardens and rainforest in the northeast, known as the tea capital.
Festivals, food and getting around Bangladesh
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Bangabandhu Homecoming Day
Falls on Jan 10
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🎉
Shab-e-Meraj
Falls on Jan 28
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🎉
Saraswati Puja
Falls on Feb 3
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🎉
Maghi Purnima
Falls on Feb 11
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🎉
Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
Food & drink
Getting around
River boats, trains and buses all serve long distances; in Dhaka the rickshaw and CNG auto-rickshaw remain the fastest short hops.
Travelling around Bangladesh’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Bangladesh tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Bangladesh's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Bangladesh public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Bangladesh have?
Bangladesh has 17 public holidays in 2025, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2025 list?
The complete 2025 calendar for Bangladesh is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Bangladesh's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Bangladesh typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Bangladesh?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Bangladesh?
Calendars are published for 2025.
School holidays in Bangladesh
School term dates in Bangladesh
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.