Bangladesh Travel Guide - Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Jan Islamic New Year.
21 Feb International Mother Language Day.
20 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
26 Mar Independence Day.
14 Apr Bangla New Year.
1 May Labour Day.
20 May Buddha Purnima.  
30 Jul Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet).
2 Oct Durga Puja (Dashami).
20 Oct Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny). 
2 Oct (3 days) Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
7 Nov National Revolution Day.
9 Dec (3 days) Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh).
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Jan Islamic New Year.
21 Feb International Mother Language Day.
9 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
26 Mar Independence Day.
14 Apr Bangla New Year.
1 May Labour Day.
2 May* Buddha Purnima.  
20 Jul Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet).
21 Sep (3 days) Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
2 Oct Durga Puja (Dashami).
20 Oct Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny). 
7 Nov National Revolution Day.
28 Nov (3 days) Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh).

* Date to be confirmed.

(a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there are restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region. (b) Buddhist festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is not possible to forecast the date of their occurrence exactly.