- Ambassadors
Program Home
- About the Program
- Meet the Ambassadors
- Emeritus Ambassadors
- Full Program Listing
- by country
- by theme
- Country Information
- What time is it? and other questions....
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia
Pakistan- Nepal
- Thailand
- Bangladesh
- Middle East
- Ambassadors in Action
- For Future Ambassadors
- Contact the Ambassadors Program
|
|
Bangladesh : National Holidays
(All information on this page is from
www.virtualbangladesh.com)
Bangladeshi daily life is replete with traditions and festivals that reflect the unique culture and tradition of Bangladeshis. Some of the tradition and customs are as ancient as prehistoric days, while others are relatively recent. The indigenous customs and festivals that has been preserved and nurtured through the ages are principally center around agricultural practices. These include nabonno (the festival of the new harvest) and pawhela boishAkh (the Bengali new Year). Religion has also played a distinct role in shaping the mores and traditions of Bangladeshi life.
Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country, and Islam's adherents in Bangladesh celebrate the joyous festival of the two Eids, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Eid-ul-Azha, the month of Ramadan, Shab-e-Qadr, Shab-e-Barat etc. Hindus in Bangladesh celebrate Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Janmastami. The Buddhists celebrate Buddho Purnima and the Christians Christmas. These are just a few of the religious festivals and feasts that Bangladeshis celebrate in their day to day life.
National occasions also mark Bangladeshi life, and these include Independence Day, Victory Day, and the historic Language Martyr's Day.
Social customs like birth, naming ceremony, marriage, and death too have a distinct Bangladeshi flavor with each ethnic and religious group having their own unique way to mark these traditions.
Fixed Public Holidays
| Date | Event | |
| 1 January | New Year's Day | |
|
21 February
|
Shaheed Day - Martyrs day. This day commemorates the lives sacrificed to make Bengali one of the national languages when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. The West Pakistani regime tried to force Urdu as the national language, a fact that was strongly contested by Bengalis. On that fateful day a procession by Bengalis was shot at by police resulting in the death of 4 martyrs. The nascent Bengali nationalism ultimately gave birth to the free nation of Bangladesh. | |
|
26 March
|
Independence and National Day - Independence of Bangladesh was formally declared after a 9 month long war of Independence with Pakistan that led to the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation. | |
|
14 April
|
Bengali Solar New Year (1) - The Bengali Calendar is based on ancient sub-continental calendars which were codified and standardized by the Mughal Emperor Akbar about 6 centuries ago. The start date of the Begali calendar was made to coincide with the start date of the Islamic calendar. The calendar is a solar one which is composed of six seasons that revolve around the region's agricultural cycle. | |
| 1 May | Labour Day | |
| 1st Monday in July | Bank Holiday | |
| 15 August | National Mourning Day (2) | |
| 7 November | National Revolution Day (2) | |
|
16 December
|
Victory Day - On this day, after the nine month long independence war with Pakistan, the occupying armed forces of Pakistan formally surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladesh and India. | |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | |
| 26 December | Boxing Day | |
| 31 December | Bank Holiday |
(1) This can vary +/- 1 day.
(2) These days depends on which party is in power
Editor: NKille
Updated October 14 2003