Bangladesh Bank directed all authorised dealer (AD) branches of the scheduled banks at the land ports at the border with India to keep open on Fridays and Saturdays before the upcoming Eid to ensure uninterrupted supply of onions from India.
Besides, the AD branches of the commercial banks at some points have been directed to continue operation on the weekly holidays until further order to facilitate the foreign trade and transaction.
The places include Dhaka and Chittagong airports, Chittagong and Mongla seaports and Benapole, Sona Masjid and Hili land ports along with Kamalapur Inland Container Depot.
The directions came at a circular issued Wednesday. Also, any bank branches dealing with export-import trade can be kept open on the weekly holidays if the banks feel necessary.
In another circular issued on the same day, Bangladesh Bank advised the scheduled banks to keep open on Tuesday next only those branches related with garment industry located at the industrial areas of Dhaka city, Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Khulna and Chittagong.
Before, the Labour Ministry and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA) had requested the central bank to make the order.
