In a bid to keep the country’s import-export activities functional and facilitate the payment of salaries and bonuses for garment workers, Bangladesh Bank has issued new directives to keep banks open on a limited scale during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
The Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department (SDAD) of the central bank sent a circular to the managing directors of all scheduled banks on Monday (March 16), outlining the special schedule.
Focus on Industrial Zones and Port Areas
According to the directive, bank branches, sub-branches, and booths located near sea, land, and airports will remain open as needed from March 17 to March 23 (excluding Eid day). This arrangement will also apply to public and weekly holidays.
To assist the readymade garments (RMG) sector, specific bank branches in industrial hubs—including Savar, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram—will remain open on March 18 and 19.
The operating hours for these industrial areas are as follows:
- Office Hours: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Transaction Hours: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Prayer Break: 1:15 PM to 1:30 PM.
Trade and Customs Support
To prevent complications in customs and official paperwork for businesses, banks will determine their own transaction schedules for branches near ports between March 17 and March 23. However, the central bank clarified:
“All banks across the country will remain completely closed on Eid-ul-Fitr day, which is expected to fall on March 21, subject to the sighting of the moon.”
Ensuring Financial Stability
Central bank officials believe this initiative will prevent stagnation in foreign trade and the industrial sector during the long holiday period. The schedule was specifically designed to handle the surge in remittance inflows and ensure timely payments to export-oriented industries.
Bangladesh Bank has also advised all scheduled banks to ensure adequate security measures while implementing these holiday operations.
