Banks closed for 3-day Eid holidays, ATM booths open

Banking activities across the country will be closed during the three-day Eid holidays starting Thursday.

So, general banking activities will be closed on 13, 14 and 15 May.

The central bank has already given strict instructions to bank employees to stay in their respective workplaces during the Eid holidays.

ATM booths will be open 24/7 and the central bank has instructed the banks to keep enough money in the booths during the holidays so that customers can withdraw amounts they need. It has also asked for tightening security at the booths.

A customer can withdraw a maximum of Tk1 lakh a day from an ATM booth. Earlier, this limit was Tk50,000. The withdrawal limit from ATM booths was doubled after the ongoing restrictions following Covid-19 situation had begun.

Meanwhile, even though the banking activities are closed for three days during Eid holidays, subject to Eid-ul-Fitr being on 14 May, the branches of the banks in the area adjacent to the garment industry will remain open on 13 May as per the previous instructions.

In a directive dated 5 April, the central bank had said to facilitate the payment of salaries, bonuses and other allowances to those involved in readymade garment sector before Eid, bank branches in the garment industry areas in Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Mymensingh, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattogram must be kept open on 10 and 13 May (subject to Eid-ul-Fitr falling on 14 May).

Central Bank spokesman Sirajul Islam told the media that the banks would be closed from Thursday after the transaction on Wednesday. After the three-day Eid holiday, transactions will continue as usual from next Sunday (16 May).

The ongoing embargo to counter Covid-19 infection will continue till 16 May. After the Eid holiday, banking activities too will continue on a limited scale on 16 May until further notice.

According to the new schedule, banking activities are going on from 6 May from 10am to 2pm. However, the bankers have to stay in the bank till 3:30pm.