Banks to continue limited operations until April 28

In compliances with the government's decision to extend the strict lockdown for one week more, banks will continue their limited operations until April 28, said a fresh circular issued by the central bank on Tuesday.

Earlier, Bangladesh Bank in a circular on April 13 said, the banks will operate general transactions from 10 am to 1 pm and keep open until 2:30 pm for necessary works every working day until April 21.

But now Bangladesh Bank issued a new circular on Tuesday to extend such schedule of limited banking operation until April 28 as per the government order to extend lockdown for another seven days.

Normally, banks operate from 10 am to 4 pm every day, according to UNB.

The new circular also said that all other instructions will remain unchanged as per the circular of April 13 where it was said that banks can keep one non-AD branch open within 2.0 km radius in the city corporation areas and in upazila level one branch of each bank can open on Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday.

The banks have to take measures to provide transport facilities for the staff during the period.

The BB circular also said, during the banking transaction hours, the banks have to ensure different kinds of services including clearing of cheques, withdrawal and deposits of money, money transfer, release of remittance, encashment of different instruments and also receipt of the payments of bills of different utilities.

BB said banks have to continue services like disbursement of loans, incentives, payment of salaries of different industries and also the purchase of export bills, loan sanction and distribution.

The banks have to follow instructions in keeping the branches located in the port areas about the coronavirus in discussion with the local administration and other authorities, as per circular issued on August 5 last year, it said.

The banks have to operate their activities through limited staffs under a roster system.

They have to ensure operation of the ATM booths to facilitate transaction through cards by supply of adequate cash in the machines while the evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will remain closed until further order, said the circular, said the circular issued on April 13.