Jumbangla Desk: Eight days including national mourning, children and historical March 7 are being canceled by the state. Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

The decision was taken in the advisory council meeting last September. Considering the recent context, the government has decided to cancel these national days.

In a letter signed by the then Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain on October 7, the concerned department was informed about this decision and instructed to take necessary measures in this regard.

The concerned official of the cabinet department told the media that a proposal regarding the cancellation of eight national days has been approved in the advisory council meeting. The cabinet department will issue a circular canceling these days soon.

According to sources in the Chief Adviser's office, out of the eight canceled days, five are related to the birth and death of Sheikh Hasina's family members. Among them, March 17 is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birthday and National Children's Day, August 5 is Sheikh Hasina's brother Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal's birth anniversary, August 8 is Sheikh Hasina's mother Bangmata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib's birth anniversary, August 15 is Bangabandhu's death anniversary and National Mourning Day, and October 18 is Sheikh Hasina's National Mourning Day. Little Brother Sheikh Russell Day.

Apart from this, the list of cancellations includes historical March 7, National Constitution Day on November 4, Smart Bangladesh Day on December 12.

It is known that on October 30, 2017, UNESCO recognized the historic March 7 speech as a global document. After that, the speech given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 7, 1971 was declared as the historic March 7 day by the Awami League government. The Cabinet Department issued a circular on October 15, 2020 declaring the day as 'A' category.

After that, several events on March 7 were celebrated in a grand manner at the cost of several crores of rupees. The Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1972.

It came into effect on December 16 or Victory Day that year. National Constitution Day was celebrated for the first time on November 4, 2022 in the country. Sheikh Hasina's government celebrated National Information and Communication Technology Day for the first time on December 12, 2017 to commemorate the Digital Bangladesh Manifesto.

The following year the name of the day was changed to Digital Bangladesh Day. In 2023 it is celebrated as 'Smart Bangladesh Day' under 'B' category.

On August 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed in his family. Then in 1996 when the Awami League came to power, August 15 was observed as the National Day of Mourning. But the BNP-led coalition came to power and canceled the decision to observe National Mourning Day in 2002.

After six years, on July 27, 2008, in view of the High Court's order, August 15 was reinstated as the National Day of Mourning. However, there were complaints of various types of extortion regarding the observance of this day.

A maximum allocation of Tk 50,000 can be provided from government sources on 'B' category days. There is no mention of government allocation amount on 'A' class days. But there are allegations of expenditure of crores of rupees across the country on August 15 mourning day. In order to meet these expenses, the officials of the field administration have also taken large sums of money from various institutions.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birthday and National Children's Day on March 17, Martyr Captain Sheikh Kamal's birthday on August 5, Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib's birthday on August 8 and Sheikh Russell Day on October 18 started gradually after Awami League came to power.

Meanwhile, after the current government took over on August 8, August 15 came first. A nationwide discussion started on how the interim government would celebrate the day.

In addition, the chief adviser of the interim government. In a meeting with Muhammad Yunus, various political parties including BNP suggested canceling the national day of mourning and public holidays on August 15.

It is said in a circular that the cancellation of the general holiday of August 15 declared on the occasion of the National Day of Mourning has been approved in the meeting of the Advisory Council based on broad consensus in the dialogue of the political parties with the Advisory Council.