Dhaka, Dec 02 (V7N)— The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed, issued an order on Sunday staying the High Court's earlier verdict that had declared August 15 a public holiday for National Mourning Day.

August 15, observed in memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, was designated as a public holiday and a Category ‘A’ National Day after the Awami League assumed power in 1996. However, in 2002, the BNP-led coalition government revoked this observance.

Following a legal battle, the High Court reinstated August 15 as National Mourning Day on July 27, 2008, making it a public holiday. In 2009, the High Court issued a further declaration cementing August 15 as a National Mourning Day. The day has since been observed with mourning rituals, remembrances, and a public holiday.

In 2024, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus canceled the public holiday associated with August 15. The decision, approved during an advisory council meeting on August 13, was formalized through a government notice.

The Appellate Division's stay on the High Court verdict now raises uncertainty over the future status of August 15 as a public holiday, potentially altering the longstanding tradition tied to the nation's history and collective memory.

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