2003 Holidays and Events in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Additional Information
Date
Name
2/9/2003, Sun
Eid ul-Azha Holiday (three days before)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted three days before Eid ul-Azha. Cabinet Division block runs 25-31 May in 2026 (7 consecutive days). Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/10/2003, Mon
Eid ul-Azha Holiday (two days before)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted two days before Eid ul-Azha. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/11/2003, Tue
Eid ul-Azha Holiday (day before, Arafat)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted the day before Eid ul-Azha, coinciding with Arafat Day. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/12/2003, Wed
Eid ul-Azha Day 1
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). First day of Eid ul-Azha. Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/13/2003, Thu
Eid ul-Azha Holiday (day after)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted the day after Eid ul-Azha. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/14/2003, Fri
Eid ul-Azha Holiday (two days after)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted the second day after Eid ul-Azha. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/15/2003, Sat
Eid ul-Azha Holiday (three days after)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted the third day after Eid ul-Azha, completing the extended 7-day Eid block. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
2/21/2003, Fri
Language Martyrs' Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Also known as Ekushey February and Amar Ekushey. Commemorates the students killed in the 1952 Bengali Language Movement demonstrations. Also observed internationally as UNESCO International Mother Language Day since 1999.
3/14/2003, Fri
Ashura
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha). Muharram / Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
3/26/2003, Wed
Independence Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Commemorates Bangladesh's declaration of independence on 26 March 1971.
4/13/2003, Sun
Chaitra Sankranti
Note
A regional General Holiday declared by MOPA gazette notification. Restricted to the three Chittagong Hill Tracts districts (Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban). Applies to all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices within those districts. Optional-only for individuals observing it elsewhere in Bangladesh. Marks the last day of the Bengali year (30 Chaitra) and coincides with the indigenous Boisabi / Biju / Sangrai / Baishu festival cluster observed by the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Mro and other indigenous peoples of the CHT region.
4/14/2003, Mon
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha). Marks the first day of the Bengali (Bangla) calendar year (1 Baishakh, occurs on the Spring equinox).
5/1/2003, Thu
May Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Also known as International Workers' Day.
5/14/2003, Wed
Eid-e-Miladunnabi (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday)
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Also known as Milad-un-Nabi. Commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
7/1/2003, Tue
Bank Half-Year Closing
Note
A bank-only closure declared by Bangladesh Bank under Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 Sec 25. Banks close to the public on 1 July for half-year accounts finalisation — the actual settlement date is 30 June (banks OPEN) and the HOLIDAY is 1 July (banks CLOSED).
8/5/2003, Tue
July Mass Uprising Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka) added by the interim government in August 2025. Commemorates the anniversary of the July 2024 Mass Uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August 2024.
9/19/2003, Fri
Shubho Janmashtami
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna (Ashtami of Bhadra Krishna Paksha).
10/4/2003, Sat
Maha Navami
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha). The ninth day of Durga Puja (Ashwin Shukla Navami).
10/4/2003, Sat
Bijaya Dashami (Durga Puja)
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). The tenth and final day of Durga Puja, the largest Hindu festival in Bangladesh.
10/12/2003, Sun
Shab e-Barat
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha). Also known as Laylat al-Bara'ah, the Night of Forgiveness in the Islamic month of Sha'ban. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
11/7/2003, Fri
National Revolution and Solidarity Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Revived by the interim government by cabinet decision (16 April 2026) with full state honours. Commemorates the 7 November 1975 popular uprising and coup.
11/22/2003, Sat
Shab-e-Qadr
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha). Also known as Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
11/24/2003, Mon
Eid ul-Fitr Holiday (day before)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted the day before Eid ul-Fitr (Ramadan 29). Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
11/26/2003, Wed
Eid ul-Fitr Day 1
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). First day of Eid ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
11/27/2003, Thu
Eid ul-Fitr Day 2
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Second day of Eid ul-Fitr. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
11/28/2003, Fri
Eid ul-Fitr Holiday (day after)
Note
An Executive-Order holiday (Category Kha) granted the day after Eid ul-Fitr, completing the extended 6-day Eid block per MOPA gazette. Islamic dates are subject to Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee confirmation and may shift by 1 day from Umm al-Qura projections.
12/16/2003, Tue
Victory Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Commemorates Bangladesh's victory in the Bangladesh Liberation War on 16 December 1971.
12/25/2003, Thu
Christmas Day
Note
A General Holiday (Category Ka). Also known as Boro Din. The Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
12/31/2003, Wed
Bank Year-End Closing
Note
A bank-only closure declared by Bangladesh Bank under Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 Sec 25. Banks close to the public on 31 December for year-end accounts finalisation — the actual settlement date is 30 December (banks OPEN) and the HOLIDAY is 31 December (banks CLOSED).