Banking operations are slated to remain open for only two out of the next nine days, which resulted in a surge of crowds in the bank branches across the capital on Thursday.
As per the instructions of Bangladesh Bank, banks will only remain open on Sunday and Tuesday. Monday is a holiday on account of Holy Shab-e-Qadr.
Tuesday will be the last working day for regular banking operations.
Bank branches in the garment industrial areas — Dhaka Metropolitan City, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Narayanganj, and Chittagong — must be open on May 10 and May 13 for the convenience of payment of workers’ salaries, bonuses, and other allowances before Eid and for the continuation of export trade, a central bank notice read.
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Payment and clearing systems introduced by the central bank should continue operating for all types of deposits, withdrawals and distribution of allowance under the various social programs of the government, remittance payments, and payment of utility bills.
Bank branches, sub-branches, booths located in the sea, land and airports, and customs areas should remain open at all times by consulting with the local administration and customs authorities.
The central bank also asked other banks to keep adequate cash at their branches and ATM booths to ensure services to clients.
Bank officials on Thursday had a hard time because of the extra crowd. Speaking to them, it was learned that the presence of Eid-centric customers was high. Most of the customers came to the banks to withdraw cash.
The same situation has been witnessed in ATM booths.
Aziz Sardar, a customer of NCC Bank, said that Eid-ul-Fitr was still a week away.
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But as the banks would remain open realistically for two days only, he came to withdraw money from his account.
From Thursday, banking transactions were carried out from 10am to 2pm and banks will remain open till 3:30pm, according to a Bangladesh Bank notice issued on Wednesday.
Banking activities will continue on a limited scale during the extended period of restrictions on public movement and gatherings from May 6 to May 16.
The central bank said that the officials and employees of banks must stay at their respective workstations during the Eid holidays.
