2016 to get 22 public holidays

The cabinet yesterday approved the proposed list of holidays for the 2016 calendar year with 14 general holidays and eight more by the executive order of the government.

The approval came at the regular weekly cabinet meeting at the secretariat, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters that apart from these 22 public holidays, there will be three optional holidays for the members of various religious communities.

"Besides, there will be optional holidays on 29th of Chaitra and 2nd of Baishakh for the people living in the Chittagong hill districts on the occasion of Boishabi festival of the ethnic minority groups," he added.