Banks to remain open until July 4 near marketplaces

Finally, Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday decided to keep branches of banks around marketplaces all over the country open till July 4. Bangladesh Bank deputy spokesman Anwarul Islam informed this saying that the central bank has taken the latest decision responding to a request of the FBCCI, the apex business body.

The FBCCI leaders on Monday met with the central bank governor and made the request to keep open the commercial banks’ branches on July 4 to facilitate the businessmen depositing their money in the banks on security grounds ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Dhaka, UNB News Agency Reported.

They came up with the demand as Bangladesh Bank issued two separate circulars, one of which said that the banks would remain closed on Monday July 4, instead of Saturday July 16, which is usually a weekly holiday. Earlier, the central bank decided to keep open bank branches on July 2 (Saturday), and July 3 (Sunday), in the industrial areas in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Savar to facilitate garment factory owners’ salary disbursement to their workers, but not on July 4.

But after the latest decision, now bank branches will operate on July 2-4 in specific locations as directed by their top managements. Anwarul Islam said that during the period the bank branches will allow money withdrawal and deposit rather than other regular activities. The government has already announced that public offices will remain closed from July 1-9 on as Eid holidays. Following the announcement, confusion mounted about the bank holidays during the period.