The Ministry of Education has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education to refrain from scheduling any examinations during the government-declared holiday period from 28 September to 9 October.

The 12-day nationwide holiday covers Durga Puja, Bijoya Dashami, Fateha-i-Yazdaham, Prabarana Purnima, and Laxmi Puja, allowing students and staff to observe the festivities with due solemnity.

The order was issued today (24 September), signed by Md Rajibul Alam, senior assistant secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division.

According to the directive, government and non-government secondary and lower secondary schools will close from 28 September, coinciding with Maha Shasthi, and will resume classes on 8 October, excluding weekends. Colleges, meanwhile, will also close on 28 September and reopen on 12 October, accounting for the weekend on 10–11 October.

This year, Durga Puja’s five-day main festivities will commence with Shasthi Puja on 28 September, seven days after Mahalaya.