DHAKA: Finance Minister AMA Muhith has taken his position against extension of the Eid holiday proposed in view of the hassles and rush homebound people pass through perennially.

Besides, he does not want to see newspapers out of the newsstand for three to four days during Eid vacations.

The Finance Minister expressed his opinions to journalists at his office in the secretariat on Monday, the first office day after a three-day Eid vacation.

“Personally I am against increase in eid vacations. Usually, we enjoy a lot of leave. Ten years back, we could enjoy 52 days as weekly leave a year, which is now 104 days. I don’t think we need some extra leave. We need to engage more days in work,” said Muhith.

Mentioning three to four days without newspaper as painful he said, “I think newspapers should be published during these vacations, maybe, in shorter version.”

Prior to the eid, on request of the business community, the ministry of home affairs proposed to extend the eid holiday to five days instead of three days. The Prime Minister regretted after the request was sent to her office through the ministry of establishment.

About the just-past Eid-ul-Fitr festival, the Finance Minister said this year eid was enjoyable and comfortable to all. The number of accidents was few and the weather fair.

For Muhith himself eid this year was especially fine because “we were quite OK both physically and mentally. I enjoyed the eid very much.”

Turning to the economics of the Islamic religious festival, the custodian of the exchequer said, “Country’s economy is in a good shape. Lots of donations and alms were there.”

BDST 1723 HRS, SEP 13, 2010