Media professionals, including journalists, officers, and newspaper employees, are set to enjoy an extended break this Eid, spanning six consecutive days.
Traditionally, journalists are granted a three-day holiday if Ramadan concludes in 29 days, and a four-day holiday if fasting extends to 30 days. This year, with Ramadan lasting 30 days, the anticipated holiday period was slated for April 9th to April 12th.
However, an unexpected twist has emerged this year, as April 14th coincides with the first day of Baisakh. Consequently, the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) has decided to extend the holiday period by declaring April 13th as a special holiday.
The decision was finalized during a meeting of the NOAB on Saturday, April 6th, with an official announcement following suit. As a result, media workers are slated to enjoy an uninterrupted six-day break, spanning from April 9th to April 14th.
This six-day Eid holiday marks a unique occurrence in Bangladesh`s history, with the press never before experiencing such an extended closure since the country`s independence.
Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, the treasurer of NOAB and editor-in-chief of Manabzamin newspaper, shed light on the unprecedented holiday duration, stating, "Since Pahela Baisakh falls between the Eid holidays this year, a special holiday is being observed in between."
