Offices, banks to reopen today
Staff Reporter :
Government offices, banks, and financial institutions across Bangladesh are set to reopen today (Sunday), following an extended 10-day holiday observed nationwide in celebration of Eid-ul-Azha. The major Muslim festival, regarded as the second most significant religious occasion after Eid-ul-Fitr, was celebrated on Friday, June 7.
This year, the Eid holiday period for public sector employees was notably longer than usual.
Initially, the government declared a six-day break from June 5 to June 10. However, in a subsequent development, the Cabinet Division issued an executive order extending the holiday to include June 11 and 12 (Wednesday and Thursday). Since Friday (June 14) is a regular weekend holiday in Bangladesh, this effectively created a rare stretch of 10 consecutive days off for government and semi-government employees.
The last working day before the break was Tuesday, June 4, prompting a mass exodus from Dhaka as millions of people left the capital to reunite with family members in their hometowns and villages to celebrate the festival.
In the days leading up to the Eid, inter-district transport hubs experienced extraordinary pressure, with long tailbacks reported on key highways such as the Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh routes. Despite the challenges, the government, law enforcement agencies, and the Roads and Highways Department coordinated efforts to manage the traffic flow and facilitate a smoother travel experience compared to previous years.
The unusually long holiday was welcomed by many, especially as it gave migrant workers and urban families more time to spend with loved ones. However, private sector employees-particularly in non-essential services-received fewer days off, sparking discussions on uniformity and balance between public and private sector holiday provisions.
As the holiday period comes to a close, a gradual return of Dhaka’s residents has begun. Train and bus terminals, as well as launch terminals at Sadarghat, have seen a growing influx of returnees over the past two days. Nevertheless, the capital has yet to return to its usual rhythm. Major roads remain relatively empty, and public transport is running at limited capacity, indicating that many Dhaka residents are either taking additional unofficial leave or choosing to return over the weekend to avoid congestion.
With the reopening of government offices and banks on June 15, the country is expected to resume full administrative and financial operations, restoring normalcy after the extended Eid-ul-Azha vacation.
