Bangladesh Bank (BB) in a notification on Thursday said that all the scheduled banks will remain open on Saturday (from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm) to meet the growing demand for cash money ahead of Eid-ul Fitr. Also read: Despite central bank's green light, banks shy to invest in capital market Besides, the scheduled banks will remain open on Friday (from 9:30 am to 12.30pm) in industrial areas in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram. However, banks will remain open till 3:00 pm on Friday and till 2:30pm on Saturday respectively for completion of post transaction ancillary activities.   Also read: BB issues revised agent banking guidelines The Department of Off-site Supervision of Bangladesh Bank on Thursday issued the notification and sent it to the top executives of the bank.

Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday started releasing new notes of Tk 10, Tk 20, Tk 50 and Tk 100 in the market ahead of Eid-ul Fitr. The central bank will continue releasing new notes until April 28 through its own branch offices in different divisional headquarters and other 32 banks branches in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj. Also read: BB relaxes agro credit payment schedule to boost food production People can collect a single buddle of new taka (Tk 10, 20, 50 and 100) notes in special arrangements during this period. The central bank has kept ready a stock new notes of Tk 23,000 crore and the amount will  be increased if required, said Md. Serajul Islam, executive director and spokesperson of BB. The new notes are being distributed from Jatrabari Branch of NCC Bank, Abdul Gani Road Corporate Branch of Janata Bank, National Press Club Corporate Branch of Agrani Bank, Mirpur Branch of NRB Global Bank, Karwan Bazar Branch of Southeast Bank, Bashundhara City Branch of Social Islami Bank (Panthapath), Chak Bazar branch of Uttara Bank, Ramna Corporate Branch of Sonali Bank, Uttara Branch of Dhaka Bank, Gulshan Branch of IFIC Bank, Mohakhali Branch of National Bank, Mohammadpur Branch of First Security Islami Bank, Rajarbagh Branch of Janata Bank, Sadarghat Branch of Pubali Bank. Also read: BB fixes 7 pc interest rates on deposit, 11 pc in lending for NBFIs Besides, the new notes are also available at Southeast Bank's Kakrail Branch, One Bank's Basabo Branch, BRAC Bank's Shyamoli Branch, Dutch-Bangla Bank's SME & Agriculture Branch, Dakshin Khan, The Premier Bank's Banani Branch, Bank Asia Dhanmondi Branch, The City Bank's Begum Rokeya Sarani branch, Al-Arafa Islami Bank's Nandipara Branch, Prime Bank's Elephant Road Branch, Mercantile Bank's Narayanganj Branch, Exim Bank's Shimrail Branch, Islami Bank Bangladesh's Gazipur Chowrasta Branch, UCBL’s Gazipur Chowrasta Branch, Uttara Bank’s Savar branch, Mutual Trust Bank’s Savar Branch and Trust Bank’s Keraniganj Branch.

The number of deaths in road crashes during the Eid holiday rush increased during the just concluded Eid ul Fitr, despite a ban on inter-district bus operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, two civic bodies said Tuesday. At least 249 people were killed and 385 others were injured in 207 road crashes over the 12 days till Monday, as people rushed to travel home and come back to Dhaka, according to a report jointly prepared by Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) and National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways. The report covers the period between May 6 and May 17. The report also stated that among the deceased, 35 were women, 29 children, 23 pedestrians and 27 transport workers, including drivers.    Also read: Rab member, another killed in Gazipur road accident Both accidents and deaths increased during this Eid-ul Fitr's holidays from the last Eid-ul Azha, the report observed.

Garment Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (GSKOP), an alliance of 20 worker associations, on Friday demanded the payment of wages and Eid bonus by May 10. In a statement, GSKOP joint coordinators -- Abdul Wahed and Karmul Ahsan— alleged that over 30 percent factories did not pay Eid bonus (festival allowance) while more than 75 percent factories are yet to disburse wages for the month of April, though only 5-6 days are left for the Eid-ul Fitr. They said even though the RMG workers kept apparel factories operational risking their lives amid the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘intelligence reports’ indicate many factories are unlikely to pay the wages and allowances before the Eid. Also read: Celebrate Eid where you are: PM Hasina They demanded the payment of wages of April and a basic wage of one month as Eid festival allowance by Monday next (May 10). The GSKOP leaders also demanded the announcement of at least a seven-day alternative leave for the apparel factory workers when the corona infection will become control. They said the export earning was US$ 3.13 billion alone last month, but many apparel workers still do not know whether they would be able to celebrate the Eid receiving wages and allowances. The RMG export earning was US$ 27.95 billion in the 2019-20 fiscal year and US$ 18.40 billion in the first seven months (July-January) of the current fiscal year of 2020-21, according to statistics provided by GSKOP. Also read: Offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayer at mosques: Govt The factory owners earlier took loans of Tk 10,500 crore at nominal interest rate from the stimulus fund for the payment of wages and allowances. This time, they sought loans of Tk 10,000 crore again for the payment of workers’ wages and allowances ahead of this Eid, the GSKOP leaders claimed. This is not true that the factories do not have the capacity to disburse wages and allowances of one-two months though they run business for over 40 years availing of all sorts of facilities from the State, they added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked Muslims to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul Fitr in their present locations to help check the spread of coronavirus across the country. “We all shouldn’t travel risking our lives on the occasion of Eid. Celebrate Eid where you’re now,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating a good number of infrastructures and water vessels of different agencies under the Shipping Ministry through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban. Also Read:Officials asked not to leave workstations during Eid holidays Sheikh Hasina said people can meet their near and dear ones later when the situation will get normal. “In order to stop the spread of coronavirus throughout the country, I would like to request you all to abide by health protection rules and not to travel from one place to another unless there’s an urgent matter,” she said. The Prime Minister said no one knows who is carrying the virus during their journeys. “When an infected person travels to another place, he may make many more infected and thus cause problems to their lives. This is why the government has taken steps to limit the movement of people,” she said. Mentioning that now the Covid-19 pandemic is inflicting severe sufferings on people, Hasina said her government is making all-out efforts to assist people properly. She said the government has already extended cash support of Tk 2,500 to each of 36.5 lakh families of extreme poor, workless or day-labourers, rickshaw-pullers, van-pullers, transport workers, low-income people who have been hit hard by the pandemic. Besides, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry continues providing food support to the people in need during this Ramadan. The government is assisting people in different ways, she said. Hasina urged the affluent section of society to come forward to help the destitute at this time of pandemic. Inauguration The infrastructures and water vessels that the PM inaugurated include TS Ilia Ahmed Chowdhury Dada Bhai Training Ship, 20 cutter suction dredgers, 83 dredger-auxiliary vessels, newly-constructed dredger base in Narayanganj, special inspection vessel ‘Paridarshi,’ two passenger vessels ‘MV Tajuddin Ahmad’ and ‘MV Ivy Rahman’, and four marine academies in Pabna, Barishal, Rangpur and Sylhet. Besides, the Prime Minister inaugurated the distribution of 500 pucca houses, constructed under a rehabilitation project in Paira Port, among the families affected by land acquisition. Vessel registration mandatory In an oblique reference to recent waterway accidents, the Prime Minister urged both operators and passengers of the water vessels to remain careful and vigilant over the safety of their lives. “Those who run or operate water vessels will have to consider the passengers’ safety. The passengers will also have to be careful about their own safety,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said sometimes vessels meet accidents and people lose their lives due to overloading. “All will have to be careful and vigilant in this regard,” she added. “I think every water vessel will have to be registered,” she said, adding that it creates problems to identify vessels and realise compensation for lack of registration. If we can run water vessels giving operators appropriate training, the rate of accidents will come down,” she said. Also Read:Lockdown to continue until May 16, intra-district public transport services from May 6 The Prime Minister asked all not to allow excess passengers and abide by rules. “Just think once of the pain of those who remain alive losing their dear ones. So, you’ve to have patience. I would like to request you all – both passengers and operators—to remain careful,” she added. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the function, joining it from the Bangladesh Secretariat. Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the virtual event, while Shipping Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.  

Hundreds of people gathered at Shimulia ferry ghat on Thursday morning for returning to the capital after celebrating of Eid-ul Fitr, raising the fear of coronavirus spread.   A large number of people are returning to their work from the Southern region of the country without maintaining social distancing and health rules, said BIWTC Shimulia ghat official Shafiqul Islam.   Total ten ferries including four Ro-Ro, four co-type, and 2 medium ferries are carrying the passengers and the vehicles.

Newspapers will not be published from May 25 to May 29 during holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival of the Muslims.

Hundreds of commuters gathered at Paturia ferry terminal on Thursday in a mad rush to go home ahead of Eid-ul Fitr defying the government’s restrictions over the coronavirus outbreak.

The government on Thursday urged Muslim devotees to avoid Eidgah or other open places for Eid congregations and offer prayers at mosques maintaining recommended health advice.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said financial assistance will be provided to all mosques and another 7,000 Qwami Madrasas across the country before the Eid-ul Fitr.