Banks to Maintain Limited Services During Eid

In a bid to ensure the continuity of essential financial operations during the extended government holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr, Bangladesh Bank has issued new guidelines mandating that banks remain operational on a limited scale. The directive, issued on Monday, 16 March, by the Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department of the central bank, has been circulated to all scheduled banks’ managing directors. The overarching aim is to prevent major disruptions in critical economic activities, including import-export operations, port-related transactions, and the timely disbursement of wages, bonuses, and festival allowances for industrial workers.

According to the instructions, all bank branches, sub-branches, and booths located near seaports, land ports, and airports are required to remain open in a limited capacity from 17 to 23 March, excluding Eid day itself. This arrangement will also be maintained on official and weekly holidays. Banks have been urged to coordinate with local authorities, customs offices, and port-linked entities to ensure services continue smoothly. This approach is expected to facilitate efficient clearance of imported goods, settlement of export bills, payment of customs duties and port charges, and the processing of letters of credit, thereby keeping foreign trade operations uninterrupted.

Furthermore, specialised bank branches in key industrial zones will operate on 18 and 19 March from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a brief closure from 1:15 pm to 1:30 pm for the Zuhr prayer. Customer transactions will be conducted from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This measure covers industrial hubs in Savar, Gazipur, Tongi, Ashulia, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and the garment-intensive areas of Chattogram. The decision primarily aims to ensure seamless payment of salaries, bonuses, and other allowances to workers in the ready-made garment sector.

The schedule for customer transactions between 17 March and 20–23 March will be determined by individual banks based on local demand and operational needs. A uniform timetable has not been enforced, allowing flexibility in service provision, particularly in port regions, export-focused industrial areas, and major commercial centres.

It is important to note that if Eid falls on Saturday, 21 March, all banks will remain closed for the day, with no exceptions. Consequently, banks face the dual challenge of maintaining essential services with limited staff while ensuring security, cash supply, ATM functionality, and uninterrupted online banking operations.

The decision to keep banks operational during the holiday period is seen as a pragmatic and business-friendly move, critical for sustaining the country’s economic flow, particularly in port-based trade, the garment industry’s financial cycles, and foreign trade documentation.

Summary of Bangladesh Bank Eid Directives

Overall, Bangladesh Bank’s initiative is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining uninterrupted financial services while supporting the broader economy during the Eid festivities.