PM increases donation for Durga Puja, Kathin Chibar Dan festival

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided to provide more donation than the demand for Sharadiya Durga Puja and the Buddhist community’s Kathin Chibar Dan ceremony. Although the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust sought Tk 4 crore for Durga Puja, Tk 5 crore has been allocated under the special consideration of the Prime Minister. Similarly, the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust had sought Tk 2 crore for Kathin Chibar Dan. There, Tk 3 crore has been allocated. That is, a decision has been taken to give Tk 1 crore more than the demand for both religious festivals.

Every year, donation is given to the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust from the state fund on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja. This time that allocation has been increased by Tk 1 crore. The donation for Kathin Chibar Dan, one of the important religious events of the Buddhist community, has also been increased in the same way.

Besides this, the holiday is also being increased on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja this time. According to this year’s government holiday list, there will be a holiday through the government’s executive order on the occasion of Navami on October 20. There will be a general holiday on Bijoya Dashami on October 21. Offices and courts were scheduled to remain open the next day on October 22. But the Prime Minister has declared a holiday on that day (October 22) as well today (Tuesday, September 29). Thereafter, Friday and Saturday on October 23 and 24 are weekly holidays. As a result, government employees will enjoy consecutive five days’ holiday from October 20 to 24.

Bijon Kanti Sarkar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Affairs, said, “By increasing the donation as well as expanding the holiday opportunity during the festival, people of the concerned communities will be able to celebrate the religious festivals with more ease.”

He said, “The matter of giving importance to the festivals of different religious communities has been expressed through allocating more than the demand in the case of donation.”

Banks and financial institutions also usually remain closed on government holidays. However, as per the directives of Bangladesh Bank, specific branches or special services may remain open. Digital services like ATM, card and online banking also usually remain operational.

However, employees engaged in emergency services such as hospitals, police, fire service, electricity, gas and water supply will have to perform duties even on holidays. Employees may also have to remain on duty in some necessary institutions including the mass media.