Ministry orders exam suspension for 12 days amid religious festivals

The Ministry of Education has directed all schools, colleges, and universities not to hold any examinations between September 28 and October 9 this year, citing multiple religious observances including Durga Puja, Fateha-e-Yazdaham, Prabarana Purnima, and Lakshmi Puja.

The instruction was issued in an official order signed by Rajibul Alam, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department, on Wednesday, September 24.

According to the order, the Secondary and Higher Education Department has finalised the annual holiday calendar for educational institutions, approving a 12-day break from September 28 to October 9 to accommodate these festivals.

The period includes key Durga Puja days Sashti (September 28), Saptami (September 29), Ashtami (September 30), Nabami (October 1), and Bijaya Dashami (October 2) as well as, Fateha-e-Yazdaham, Prabarana Purnima, and Lakshmi Puja.

The ministry stressed that, to allow students, teachers, and staff to observe the festivals with due solemnity, no examinations should be scheduled in any educational institution during this 12-day window.

The order also noted that Mahalaya, marking the beginning of the Devipaksha lunar fortnight, fell on September 21 this year, with the Pratipada tithi of Sharad Durga Puja commencing on September 22.

Government holidays are traditionally observed on Bijaya Dashami, which falls on October 2 this year.