Banks to remain open during holidays

Banks will remain open during the holidays declared by the government from 26 March to 4 April to facilitate the financial transaction for their clients, according to UNB.

According to a top official of Bangladesh Bank, banks will keep their operation on from 10:00am to 1:30pm during the government-declared 10-day holiday against the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak in the country.

He, however, said transaction can be made from 10am to 12:00pm.

Meanwhile, the central bank in a circular on 22 March asked all commercial banks to keep adequate cash in their branches to ensure services to their clients during any lockdown.

It advised the bank managements to take help from the local administration to keep their services on during the holiday periods.

The government on Monday declared holidays from 26 March to 4 April, aiming to prevent the transmission of deadly coronavirus.

Cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the decision from a meeting at the secretariat.

Besides, the members of Armed Forces will remain in the field from Tuesday to help the civil admiration so that people maintain social distancing and suspects maintain quarantine.

He said the government has announced general holidays for five days from 26 March to 2 April while 3 and 4 April are weekly holidays.

However, kitchen markets, hospitals and pharmacies will remain open as usual, the cabinet secretary said.