Banks asked to remain open in lockdown areas


FE REPORT | Published: May 26, 2021 08:47:22 | Updated: May 27, 2021 08:59:50


FE file photo used for representational purpose

The central bank has asked all the scheduled banks to keep their branches open in lockdown areas in consultation with the respective local administration.

The banks concerned will have to inform the local administration of their employees who will go to branches located in lockdown areas.

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued a notification to this effect on Tuesday.

The instruction came against the backdrop of lockdown imposed in Chapainawabganj district and Teknaf sub-district under Cox's Bazar recently to curb the increasing rate of Covid-19 cases in those areas.

On May 23, the BB asked the banks to extend the working period by half an hour and refixed the transaction period from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm until May 30.

The transaction period was from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in each working day earlier.

Besides, the banks have been asked to provide services on a limited scale from May 24 by keeping open their branches from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm instead of 3:30 pm.

The regulator made the decision following the extension of the nationwide restrictions on public movement until May 30 to curb the second wave of coronavirus infection.

siddique.islam@gmail.com

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