Bengal govt cuts Bakrid holiday to one day from earlier two-day break

Kolkata, May 23 : The West Bengal government on Saturday issued a notification declaring May 28 as the Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) holiday this year, cancelling the earlier notification issued under the previous Mamata Banerjee-led regime that had declared a two-day holiday on May 26 and May 27.

"In terms of Notification No. 4188-F(P2) dated 27 November, 2025, 26 May, 2026 (Tuesday) and 27 May, 2026 (Wednesday) were declared as public holidays on account of the Day before Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) and Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) respectively. Now, information has been received that Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) will be observed on 28 May, 2026 (Thursday). Accordingly, in partial modification of the aforesaid notification, the Governor is pleased to declare 28 May, 2026 (Thursday) as a public holiday under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 on account of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid).

"Consequent upon the above, the holidays notified earlier for 26 May, 2026 (Tuesday) and 27 May, 2026 (Wednesday) on account of the Day before Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) and Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) respectively, are hereby cancelled. Accordingly, 26 May, 2026 (Tuesday) and 27 May, 2026 (Wednesday) will be working days for all offices, institutions and establishments to which the aforesaid notification applies,” the notification issued by the state Finance Department read.

After the Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal in 2011, ending the 34-year Left Front rule in the state, the list of public holidays for state government employees became longer in several instances.

Several new holidays were also introduced, which were not part of the holiday calendar during the previous Left Front regime.

Now, with the curtailment of the Bakrid holidays, questions have automatically arisen over whether the new regime would bring changes to the rules governing other holidays as well.

Just a few days ago, the new state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced changes in the schedule of summer vacations in state-run schools, extending the duration of the break.

Meanwhile, the state government has alerted all police stations across West Bengal to take all necessary precautions to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully throughout the state.