Banks can stay open in lockdown areas

The Bangladesh Bank said banks can be kept open in areas where lockdowns are put in place by local administrations to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Under such circumstances, banks have to inform and coordinate with local administrations to ensure uninterrupted movement of their officers and employees.

In a circular on Tuesday, the central bank said banking transactions can be conducted in coordinated consultation with local administrations concerned, when lockdowns are declared locally by metropolitan or district administrations.

The district administration has reportedly declared a lockdown in Chapainawabganj for one week from Monday, May 24, with an 11-point instruction following the recent surge in Covid infections.

The coronavirus infection rate in the district has been more than 50% for a week. As the situation has deteriorated, the local administration announced the lockdown on the instructions of the Cabinet Division.

However, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Manjurul Hafeez told The Business Standard that no lockdown has been imposed in Chapainawabganj, but movement has been banned. All banks and financial institutions in the district are open.

He said no banking services have been stopped in the district so that the mango trade and transportation facilities can continue during the current mango season, and financial transactions would not be affected.

According to a central bank circular issued on May 23, banking services will continue on a limited scale till May 30.

According to the new deadline, customers will be able to do bank transactions from 10am to 2.30pm. Earlier, the deadline was 10am to 2pm.