Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday announced that all scheduled banks will remain closed on March 18 as the government declared the day a public holiday through an executive order on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
However, some bank branches in key industrial areas will remain open on a limited scale on March 18 and 19 to facilitate the payment of salaries, bonuses and allowances for garment workers.
The central bank’s Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department (SDAD) issued a circular in this regard.
It said bank branches related to the garment industry in several industrial hubs will operate under a special schedule.
The areas include Dhaka metropolitan area, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattogram.
In these branches, office hours will be from 10:00am to 2:00pm while banking transactions will take place from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
The central bank also directed banks to keep branches, sub-branches or booths located in seaports, land ports and airports operational to facilitate import and export activities.
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These branches may continue limited operations from March 17 to March 23, excluding the day of Eid, during public and weekly holidays in coordination with the local administration and customs authorities.
The circular, signed by SDAD Director Md Abdul Mannan, said officials and employees working during the holidays will receive allowances in accordance with existing rules.