Public holidays in Bangladesh are the key highlights of the country’s rich culture and history. Starting from the solemn Independence Day and Victory Day to the festive celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, these special days bring communities together in celebration.
Each of the occasions is a chance to honor national pride, religious traditions, and cultural heritage. So, if you’re planning family gatherings or simply looking to stay informed, it is important to have the proper knowledge on official public holidays in Bangladesh 2026.
In this article, you will get the complete list of holidays with the needed details you should know for efficient tracking and managing the leaves.
What Are The Public Holidays In Bangladesh In 2026?
So, how many public holidays are there in Bangladesh? There are 28 government-declared public holidays in Bangladesh in 2026, 14 general holidays, and 14 declared under executive order.
Public Holidays in Bangladesh 2026 (General Holidays)
Here is the list of public holidays in Bangladesh that are observed in 2026:
| Date | Day | Name | Type of Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 4 | Wednesday | Shab e-Barat (Night of Records) | Religious |
| February 10 | Tuesday | Public Holiday (workers in industrial areas only) | Public |
| February 11 | Wednesday | Public Holiday | Public |
| February 12 | Thursday | Public Holiday (13th Parliamentary Election and Constitutional Referendum | National |
| February 21 | Saturday | Shahid Dibosh (International Mother Language Day) | National |
| March 17 | Tuesday | Shab-e-Qadar (Night of Destiny) | Religious |
| March 19-23 | Thursday - Monday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Religious |
| March 20 | Friday | Jumatul Bidah | Religious |
| March 26 | Thursday | Independence Day (National Day) | National |
| April 13 | Monday | Chaitra Sankranti | Religious |
| April 14 | Tuesday | Pahela Baishakh (Bangla New Year) | National |
| May 1 | Friday | May Day | International |
| May 1 | Friday | Buddha Purnuma (Buddha Day) | Religious |
| May 26-31 | Tuesday - Sunday | Eid-ul-Azha Holiday | Religious |
| June 26 | Friday | Ashura (Muharrum) | Religious |
| July 1 | Wednesday | July Bank Holiday | Public |
| August 5 | Wednesday | July Mass Uprising Day | National |
| August 26 | Wednesday | Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi | Religious |
| September 4 | Friday | Sri Krishna Janamashtami | Religious |
| October 20 | Tuesday | Durga Puja Holiday | Religious |
| October 21 | Wednesday | Durga Puja (Bijoya Dashami) | Religious |
Bangladesh Government Holiday Calendar 2026 (Official List)
This list of holidays in Bangladesh in 2026 is recognized by the government:
| Date | Day | Name | Type of Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21 | Saturday | International Mother Language Day | National |
| March 20 | Friday | Jumatul Bida | Religious |
| March 21 | Saturday | Eid al-Fitr | Religious |
| March 26 | Thursday | Independence Day | National |
| May 1 | Friday | May Day, Buddha Purnima (Boishakhi Purnima) | International / Religious |
| May 28 | Thursday | Eid al-Adha | Religious |
| August 5 | Wednesday | Mass Uprising Day | National |
| August 26 | Wednesday | Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH) | Religious |
| September 4 | Friday | Janmashtami | Religious |
| October 21 | Wednesday | Durga Puja (Bijoya Dashami) | Religious |
| December 16 | Wednesday | Victory Day | National |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Religious |
Bank Holidays in Bangladesh 2026
Bank holidays in Bangladesh apply to all scheduled banks and financial institutions. On these days, banks remain closed, and all banking services stop nationwide, following the official holiday list issued by Bangladesh Bank.
| Date | Day | Name | Type of Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 4 | Wednesday | *Shab-e-Barat | Religious |
| February 21 | Saturday | Shaheed Day / International Mother Language Day | National |
| March 18 | Wednesday | * Lailat-al-Qadr | Religious |
| March 19 - 23 | Thursday - Monday | * Jummatul Bidah & Eid-ul-Fitr | Religious |
| March 26 | Thursday | Independence Day | National |
| April 14 | Tuesday | Bengali New Year | Cultural |
| May 1 | Friday | May Day & *Buddha Purnima | International / Religious |
| May 25 - 30 | Monday - Saturday | *Eid-ul-Adha | Religious |
| June 26 | Friday | *Muharram (Ashura) | Religious |
| July 1 | Wednesday | Bank Holiday | Public |
| August 5 | Wednesday | July Uprising Day | National |
| August 25 | Tuesday | *Eid-e-Miladun-Nabi (Sm) | Religious |
| September 4 | Friday | Shuva Janmashtami | Religious |
| October 20 - 21 | Tuesday - Wednesday | Durga Puja (Nabami & Bijoya Dashami) | Religious |
| December 16 | Wednesday | Victory Day | National |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Religious |
| December 31 | Thursday | Bank Holiday | Public |
Optional Holidays
This list of national holidays in Bangladesh in 2026 is not mandatory, but is observed by various communities:
| Date | Day | Name | Type of Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | International |
| January 17 | Saturday | Shab-e-Meraj | Religious |
| January 23 | Friday | Saraswati Puja | Religious |
| February 1 | Sunday | Maghi Purnima | Religious |
| February 15 | Sunday | Maha Shivaratri | Religious |
| February 18 | Wednesday | Ash Wednesday | Religious |
| March 3 | Tuesday | Holi | Religious |
| March 17 | Tuesday | Arrival Day of Sri Sri Harichand Tagore | Religious |
| March 24 | Tuesday | Eid ul-Fitr Holiday (Tentative Date) | Religious |
| April 2 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday | Religious |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| April 4 | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Religious |
| April 5 | Sunday | Easter Day | Religious |
| April 30 | Thursday | Buddha Purnima Holiday | Religious |
| June 1 | Monday | Eid al-Adha Holiday (Tentative Date) | Religious |
| July 29 | Wednesday | Ashari Purnima | Religious |
| August 12 | Wednesday | Akhri Chahar Shamba | Religious |
| September 24 | Thursday | Fateha-i-Yajdaham (Tentative Date) | Religious |
| September 26 | Saturday | Madhu Purnima | Religious |
| October 10 | Saturday | Mahalaya | Religious |
| October 18 | Sunday | Durga Puja Holida | Religious |
| October 19 | Monday | Ashtami | Religious |
| October 25 | Sunday | Lakshmi Puja / Prabarana Purnima | Religious |
| November 8 | Sunday | Kali Puja | Religious |
| December 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Religious |
| December 26 | Saturday | Boxing Day | International |
Note on Holiday Dates:
Public holidays in Bangladesh fall into two categories based on how their dates are set as holidays each year:
- Fixed Date Holidays: These holidays come on the same calendar date every year. For instance, Independence Day is always celebrated on March 26, and we observe Victory Day on December 16th.
- Variable Date Holidays: On the contrary, some days of the year are set based on the lunar or religious calendars, but this is mainly due to the changes according to moon sightings or other traditional calculations. Notable examples include Islamic holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Downloadable Format of Public Holidays
For your convenience, here we have added the complete Bangladesh government holiday list 2026 in a downloadable format. Just download the file and get all the important holiday information in one place!
What Is The Weekly Holiday In Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, the typical weekly holiday is Friday, when the majority Muslim population here observes it as the Jumma prayer day. However, since September 2005, the government declared a two-day weekly holiday for government offices, in which Saturday is added. Government and semi-government offices typically remain closed on both days.
However, during extended holiday periods such as Eid, government offices may open on Saturdays. It is often due to make up for the longer breaks. On the contrary, private sector organizations usually observe Friday as the weekly holiday. Some sectors operate on a five-day workweek and include an additional Saturday off. All in all, they have the flexibility to adjust their weekend schedules based on business needs or government directives.
How Are Public Holidays Calculated in Bangladesh?
Public holidays are calculated by secular, religious, and optional. Most of the holidays here are declared by the Ministry of Public Administration. National holidays such as Independence Day or March 26, and Victory Day or December 16 are fixed and commemorate notable historical events. Besides, religious holidays, including Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, are set based on the Islamic lunar calendar as their days are not fixed. Exact dates vary each year depending on moon sightings.
Specialized government offices complete this lunar calculation and announce it shortly before the holidays. There are also optional holidays, which are not mandatory but special communities observe as their cultural or religious festivals. Weekly holidays, usually on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays, are also considered when scheduling these breaks. However, the goal is to honor all the traditions and keep the government and public services running efficiently.
Why Tracking Holidays and Leave Is Crucial for HR?
Tracking holidays and employee leave through a structured leave application format is essential for HR teams to ensure legal compliance, process payroll accurately, and maintain adequate staffing levels. When employees submit leave requests in a standardized format, HR managers can easily track approvals, maintain accurate leave records, and avoid confusion during busy holiday periods.
During major festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, or Durga Puja, companies often need to manage additional HR considerations alongside leave approvals, including employee benefits like festival bonus in Bangladesh. Proper planning helps organizations manage workforce availability, process holiday-related benefits smoothly, and maintain uninterrupted business operations while employees enjoy their festive breaks.
Track Leaves and Holidays Easily with PIHR
PiHR is the leading HR and payroll software that simplifies how businesses in Bangladesh manage employee leaves and holidays. It is one of the advanced cloud-based HR tools that transforms the traditional paper forms and makes HR holiday management efficient. By utilizing the PiHR, HR teams can reduce manual work and accurately manage employee leave easily from anywhere. The in-app mobile application makes this task much easier and more flexible. The software includes all the advanced features that make leave and holiday management effective. Such as:
- Holiday Calendar Auto-Sync: Automatically updates and shares official holidays with all employees. Everyone inside gets the update on upcoming tasks.
- Leave Request Management: Employees easily submit leave requests online. Managers are even able to approve or reject them with a single click.
- Real-Time Dashboards: You can get instant access to the leave balances, pending requests, and overall team availability. It helps to make the leave decision better.
- Employee Self-Service: Employees can view their leave history, track the status of their requests, and plan time off independently. All can even be done without the need for interruptions for the HR.
- Attendance and Absence Tracking: Tracks the employees’ absences, leaves, overtime, and shift changes with clear and detailed reports.
- Notifications: Automate email alerts through which employees and managers get updated on leave approvals and changes.
- Security: Integrating strong data encryption and new security measures to keep employee information safe.
Managing public holidays and employee leave becomes much easier with leave tracking software in Bangladesh, especially when it’s part of the best HR software. It helps HR teams avoid scheduling clashes, plan staffing better, and use resources wisely, while employees get the time they need to rest and recharge. In the end, it helps maintain a well-balanced workplace and avoid understaffing.
