Banks will enjoy 27 holidays in 2025: BB

Employees of banks and financial institutions will enjoy a total of 27 holidays in 2025, according to the holiday schedule finalised by Bangladesh Bank.

Of these, eight coincide with Fridays and Saturdays, reports bdnews24.com.

The central bank has sent the list of holidays to the managing directors and chief executive officers of all scheduled banks. This marks an increase from the 24 holidays granted this year.

The first holiday of the year will be for Shab-e-Barat, falling on Feb 15, a Saturday. Another holiday is scheduled on Feb 21, a Friday, for International Mother Language Day. Independence Day will be observed on Mar 26, a Wednesday, while Jumatul Wida and Shab-e-Qadr will be marked on Mar 28, a Friday.

For Eid-ul-Fitr, banks will remain closed from Mar 29 to Apr 2, spanning five days, including a weekly holiday.

The list also includes holidays for Bengali New Year on Apr 14, a Monday; May Day on May 1, a Thursday; and Buddha Purnima on May 11, a Sunday.

Another six-day holiday is set for Eid-ul-Azha from Jun 5 to 10, with two days overlapping with weekly holidays.

Additional holidays include the Bank Holiday on Jul 1, Ashura on Jul 6, Janmashtami on Aug 16, and Eid-e-Miladunnabi on Sept 5.

Durga Puja holidays will be observed on Oct 1 and 2, followed by Victory Day on Dec 16, Christmas Day on Dec 25, and another Bank Holiday on Dec 31.

Holidays for Shab-e-Barat, Shab-e-Qadr, Eid-ul-Fitr, Buddha Purnima, Eid-ul-Azha, Ashura, and Eid-e-Miladunnabi will depend on moon sightings.

The holiday calendar for 2025 also includes holidays on certain Sundays and Thursdays, potentially extending weekends and providing longer breaks for bank employees.

Last year, holidays for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birthday on Mar 17 and National Mourning Day on Aug 15, the day of the assassination of the nation’s founding father and his family, were observed but have since been cancelled following a recent government executive order.