Public holiday law in the offing

The government has taken a move to make a law for the declaration of public holidays for government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous organizations.

An inter-ministry meeting held at the secretariat on Thursday asked all ministries and divisions to give their opinion, within a week, on the proposed 'Public Holiday Announcement Bill, 2011.

Chaired by public administration ministry secretary Iqbal Mahmud, the meeting was attended by joint secretaries from various ministries and divisions, besides others, officials said.

A joint secretary of the public administration ministry told New Age that in the absence of a law the government declares public holidays each year for the celebration of national, religious and other important days through administrative order.

He said that for finalizing a bill on public holiday the opinion of all the ministries and divisions had been sought.

He said the public administration ministry already drafted the bill on the issue.

The draft bill would be placed before the cabinet meeting soon for approval, he said.

Important national days celebrated as public holidays include, Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21, March 17 — birthday of the father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, March 26 — Independence and National Day, December 16 Victory Day.

Officials said that the government can declare other public holidays besides 14 usual public holidays in its annual calendar.

Public holiday law of New Zealand stipulates that an alternative holiday must be provided if an employee works on a public holiday.

Source : New Age

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