Bangladesh : Blow to Hindus in Bangladesh, holidays for Hindu festivals canceled in Bangladesh..

The series of attacks and atrocities on the minority Hindu community during the interim Yunus government in Bangladesh shows no sign of stopping. While the atmosphere is already tense due to incidents of violence against Hindus in various parts of the country, it is now being alleged that there is direct encroachment on their religious and cultural rights. The controversy has further escalated due to the list of official holidays for 2026 announced by the Bangladesh government.

According to the list of holidays released by the government, no official holidays have been granted for major religious festivals such as Saraswati Puja, Buddha Purnima, Janmashtami, and Durgashtami for Hindus in Bangladesh. Notably, in the past, holidays were granted for these festivals, albeit in a limited manner. However, this year's list completely lacks these festivals. This has led to strong dissatisfaction being expressed within the Hindu community.

Not only that, but May Day, known as Labor Day, has not been given a holiday this year. Moreover, there is no mention of Language Martyrs' Day, which holds an important place in the history of Bangladesh, in the list of official holidays. These decisions are raising questions about the government's stance and are being criticized from various quarters.

According to the guidelines issued by the interim government in this regard, all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in the country will remain open on all these days. This will make it difficult for students and teachers to take leave to celebrate religious festivals. Some organizations have reacted strongly to this, accusing that religious sentiments are being hurt.

Meanwhile, holidays have been maintained during the festivals of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. This has led to accusations from the minority community that the government is taking a biased stance. Compared to previous years, the number of holidays given for Hindu festivals has been significantly reduced, raising suspicions that this is not just an administrative decision but a planned discrimination.

Human rights organizations and social activists have demanded that this decision be taken seriously, and the government should review the list of holidays. The issue of religious freedom and cultural existence of the Hindu community has come to the forefront, and it is predicted that pressure on this issue may increase both domestically and internationally in the coming times. Everyone is now focused on what impact this decision will have on the values of democracy and secularism in Bangladesh.