Weekly holiday

Like several other readers, I also believe that two-days weekly holiday cannot bring any good to our economic life.

The government should reconsider the matter in the greater interest of the country.

Professor M. Zahidul Haque Dhaka-1207

Based on my experience during my stay in Bahrain on employment for over 17 years, I discovered that government offices work five days a week and bank & business observe six week days. I believe the same is true about most of the Gulf countries. Banking is a vital sector of the economy of Bahrain, considering its geographical location. I simply cannot imagine that our banks will remain closed for two days.

Can't we follow the economic principles of the said countries that are employers of our foreign-currency earner expatriate workers? Public holidays in Bahrain are as follows:
New Year 1 January
Eid-ul-Fitr 3 days (holiday starts from the day of Eid), Eid-ul-Adha 3 days (holiday starts from the day of Eid), Islamic New Year 1 , Muharram Ashura 2 days, Prophet's Birthday 1 day, National Day 16 & 17 December (1 day was added for winning a verdict in the International Court of Justice a few years ago).

If the above days fall on weekends, holidays are given as compensation. In the light of the above, we have too many holidays. So the holiday business by any definition remains controversial all the time.

In this context, I also discover that newspapers are available every day in the Gulf countries, regardless of holidays, unlike in our country when we have enough time to read newspapers and are without newspapers. I am afraid too many holidays and hartals (unique in the world) will cripple our national economy, whatever ideology we follow.