August 5 holiday: Who won’t get the day off?

August 5 has been declared a public holiday on the occasion of July Mass Uprising Day, but employees of essential and emergency services will not be able to enjoy the day off.

According to the government’s 2026 holiday calendar, employees working in hospitals, emergency healthcare, law enforcement, fire service, electricity, gas, water, ports, airports, railways, public transport, prisons, disaster management and other essential government services may have to remain on duty as required.

They will perform their duties according to the respective organisations’ duty rosters.

As August 5 falls on a Wednesday, government employees can take leave on Thursday, August 6, allowing them to enjoy a four-day break.

However, this opportunity does not apply to employees engaged in essential services, who will have to work according to operational requirements.

Meanwhile, no decision has yet been announced on whether garment factories will remain closed on August 5 this year.

Last year, garment factories remained closed on August 5, with BGMEA saying the decision was taken to honour those killed and support the government’s declaration.