Students across Bangladesh are set to enjoy an extended break during this year's Durga Puja, with the combination of scheduled holidays and weekly weekends resulting in continuous holidays of 10 to 16 days, depending on the type of institution.
The exact duration may vary because institutions may follow their own holiday schedules and relevant authorities may make adjustments.
According to the 2026 holiday calendar for government and private secondary and lower-secondary schools, educational institutions will remain closed for five days from October 18 to 22 for Durga Puja. The holidays will be extended by the weekly breaks on October 16 and 17, Friday and Saturday, as well as October 23 and 24.
If October 25, Sunday, is observed as a holiday for Lakshmi Puja, students could enjoy a continuous 10-day break from October 16 to 25.
However, the schedule could be revised. The Ministry of Education or relevant directorates may reschedule holidays based on academic requirements. Students should therefore follow official notices issued by their respective institutions for confirmation.
The holiday period is longer for colleges. According to a notice from the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, colleges will remain closed from October 18 to 29 for Durga Puja, Bijoya Dashami, Prabarana Purnima and Lakshmi Puja. The weekly Friday-Saturday holidays falling within this period are not included in the official 12-day holiday count.
As a result, students could have a total 16-day break by combining the weekly holidays on October 16 and 17, the scheduled holidays from October 18 to 29, and the weekly holidays on October 30 and 31.
Government employees will also receive an extended break around Durga Puja this year. According to the government's holiday calendar, October 20, Tuesday, and October 21, Wednesday, were already designated holidays for Mahanavami and Bijoya Dashami. The government has additionally declared October 22, Thursday, a holiday through executive order. Including the weekly weekend, government employees will have a five-day continuous break.
Madrasa teachers and students will also receive holidays during the festival. According to the holiday calendar of the Directorate of Madrasa Education, government and private madrasas, including MPO-listed and Ebtedayee madrasas, will remain closed for three days from October 20 to 22.
Universities, however, follow different holiday arrangements. The government's holiday calendar does not automatically apply to all universities, particularly autonomous institutions, which determine their holidays based on their own academic calendars and administrative decisions.
As a result, the duration of the Durga Puja break may vary from one university to another. Some universities may align their holidays with the government schedule, while others may provide additional holidays before or after the festival. Class, examination, administrative and residential-hall schedules may also differ.
Students should therefore check individual university notices for confirmation of the exact duration of the Durga Puja holiday.
