Govt announces 3-day public holiday from Monday

Bangladesh government on Sunday declared a three-day public holiday across the country from Monday (July 5).

The public administration ministry’s public relations officer Abdullah Shibly Sadiq confirmed the news.

At least 41 people were killed in clashes amongst quota reform protesters, members of law-enforcement agencies and members of ruling party-backed organisations in Dhaka, Feni, Narsingdi, Bogura, Jaipurhat, Sylhet, Cumilla, Rangpur, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Munshigang and Magura on Sunday (August 4).

Earlier, the government announced three days’ general holidays on July 21, July 22 and July 23 for ensuring public safety amid the ongoing violent protests across the country.

The protesting students at a rally attended by thousands in Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Saturday announced a one-point demand for the resignation of the government, shifting from their earlier position of a nine-point charter of demands seeking justice for victims of the quota reform movement that left over 200 killed in July.

They also rejected a call for dialogue made by prime minister Sheikh Hasina earlier in the day.