Banking hours changed: 10am-2pm until 16 May

The Bangladesh Bank has extended banking hours by one hour until 16 May, alongside ongoing movement restrictions. Earlier, the banking hours were from 10am to 1pm till 5 May. 

During the Covid-19 lockdown, banks will remain open for four hours from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Bankers may stay in the office until 3.30pm for back office work.  

The central bank's Department of Off-Site Supervision (DOS) issued a circular in this regard on Wednesday.

Banking operations on a limited scale will continue until 16 May, except for weekends and public holidays. 

Employees of banks and non-bank financial institutions must be at their respective workstations during the Eid holidays.

Bank branches in readymade garments industrial areas of Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Mymensingh's Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram, will remain open on 10 and 13 May in accordance with hygiene rules (subject to Eid-ul-Fitr being on 14th May).

The Department of Financial Institutions and Markets of the central bank on Wednesday directed non-bank financial institutions to run transactions on a limited scale until 16 May, except for public and weekly holidays.

Today's DOS circular also said other instructions in the circular issued on April 13 would also remain in force.

In a circular on 13 April, the central bank said bank headquarters, authorized dealer branches, and district-level head offices will remain open during the movement restrictions.

Also, one branch (if the authorized dealer branch is not open) will remain open every two kilometres in city corporation areas. At the upazila level, a single branch of a bank will remain open on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Apart from this, branches, sub-branches, and bank booths in the vicinity of sea, land, and air ports will remain open. Port authorities and local administration are to take appropriate measures in enforcing health safety guidelines.

For NBFIs, one branch in the capital and another office outside Dhaka will remain open until 5 May.    

The Bangladesh Bank instructed banks to continue operations with a limited workforce and to ensure transport for bank staff.

On 22 April, the central bank said if banks are unable to arrange transportation for their staff, they are to pay a travel allowance to their staff. The banks were told to pay the allowances on account of the additional travel costs due to movement restrictions.

They also instructed banks to keep enough cash in ATM booths and the daily withdrawal limit from ATMs has been increased from Tk50,000 to Tk1 lakh.

Mobile banking agent points were also instructed to keep a sufficient amount of cash.