Kolkata: The newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal has reduced the two-day holiday for Eid-ud-Zoha, also known as Bakrid, which was previously declared by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration, to a single day. The decision was announced through a notification issued on Saturday, stating that the Bakrid holiday will be observed on May 28.
Background of the Holiday Change
Earlier this year, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government had released the official holiday calendar, which designated May 26 and 27 as holidays for Bakrid under the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act. However, with the festival falling on May 28, the BJP government has rescheduled the dates and declared only a one-day holiday. The notification further clarified that all government offices will function normally on May 26 and 27.
Previous TMC Government's Holiday Policy
The Mamata Banerjee administration, since coming to power in 2011, had significantly expanded the state's holiday calendar. This included granting two-day holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr and Chhath Puja. Additionally, on several occasions when Lakshmi Puja coincided with a Thursday or Monday, the TMC government announced an extra holiday to create a long weekend.
Political observers view the BJP government's latest move as a clear indication of its intention to end what they describe as the previous administration's "holiday culture." This shift reflects a broader policy change aimed at streamlining the holiday schedule and reducing the number of non-working days.
Impact on Government Functioning
The reduction in the Bakrid holiday means that government offices will remain open on May 26 and 27, ensuring continuity in public services. The decision is expected to affect employees and citizens who had planned for an extended break. However, the government has not indicated any changes to other holidays in the calendar.
This move is part of a series of administrative reforms introduced by the new BJP government, which has also focused on other policy adjustments since taking office.
