Banks to remain closed on 18 March for Eid; services to continue in industrial areas

Bangladesh Bank today (10 March) announced that all scheduled banks will remain closed on 18 March 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 the Dhaka metropolitan area, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattogram.

In these branches, office hours will be from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm while banking transactions will take place from 10am to 1pm.

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.

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.