5 August declared ‘Uprising Holiday’

Staff Reporter :

The government has officially designated 5 August as a public holiday each year to commemorate ‘July Mass Uprising Day’, marking the fall of the Awami League government following last year’s student-led movement.

The Cabinet Division issued two gazette notifications on Tuesday (2 July), confirming that 5 August will now be included under the ‘A’ category of national and international observances. The decision aligns with a directive first issued on 21 October 2024.

All ministries, divisions, and government agencies have been instructed to observe the day with due solemnity and appropriate programmes.

In a separate announcement, the government also declared 16 July as ‘July Martyrs’ Day’, categorised under the ‘B’ list of national observances. The day honours those who lost their lives during the 2024 uprising, particularly student activist Abu Sayeed, whose death served as a catalyst for the mass movement.

Additionally, the government has withdrawn its earlier plan to observe 8 August as ‘New Bangladesh Day’. The observance, initially declared by the Advisory Council, was officially cancelled through a third notification issued on the same day.

These developments are part of wider state efforts to institutionalise the remembrance of the July-August 2024 uprising, which is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the country’s political transformation. On 26 June, the government initially announced 5 and 8 August as key commemorative dates tied to the uprising.

To coordinate national observances, a 36-member national committee has been formed. The body is responsible for overseeing a 36-day-long programme, running from 1 July to 5 August, marking the anniversary of the historic movement.