NN ONLINE:
The Ministry of Education has announced that no examinations will be held at high schools, colleges, or universities from September 28 to October 9 in observance of Durga Puja, the most significant annual festival for Bengali Hindus.
The ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division (SHED) circulated the directive to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Wednesday. The order notes that SHED has prepared a comprehensive list of annual holidays for educational institutions for 2025 (Bengali year 1431-1432). The schedule sets aside 12 vacation days from September 28 to October 9 for Durga Puja, Bijoy Dashami, Fateha-e-Yazdaham, Prabarana Purnima, and Lakshmi Puja.
To maintain a festive atmosphere and the necessary solemnity for these occasions, the order instructs the UGC and DSHE not to schedule any examination days across all educational institutions during the 12-day period from September 28 to October 9.
This year’s festival calendar places Durga Puja’s Mahapanchami on September 27, followed by Mahasashtami on September 28, Mahasaptami on September 29, Mahaashtami on September 30, Mahanabami on October 1, and Mahadashami on October 2. Dashami is a public holiday. Earlier, Mahalaya occurred on September 21, and the Durga Pratipada Tithi began on September 22.
Durga Puja will be celebrated in 33,576 pavilions nationwide, with 255 of them located in the Dhaka Metropolitan area. Puja holidays will commence at educational institutions from Mahashasti (September 28). In line with the government and private secondary and lower secondary school holiday list issued by the Ministry of Education, these schools will close for eight days, with classes resuming on October 8.
For government and private colleges, holidays will begin on September 28 as well, with colleges closed for 10 days. Since October 10–11 fall on a weekend, classes at colleges are scheduled to resume on October 12.
