Cabinet instructs to keep banks open during lockdown
The Cabinet Division has issued a notice requesting the Bangladesh Bank to keep banking services open during lockdown.
The instruction came a day after the central bank issued a circular asking to keep regular banking service closed in line with the government restrictions, imposed for seven days from 14-21 April.
On Monday, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification to keep all government and private offices, including the financial institutions, closed during the lockdown.
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Following that notification, the central bank decided to keep banking services closed during the weeklong lockdown.
A day after the notification, cabinet division changed its decision asking the central bank to take necessary measure to run banking service for special need.
On Tuesday, ATM booths, banks, kitchen markets, grocery stores in the capital witnessed a huge crowd as people were seen storing their daily essentials.
People were seen in a rush to withdraw cash from different banks in the capital. The cash withdrawals were several times higher than deposits or payment of utility bills.
Bank officials struggled to cope with the pressure of clients and health rules were ignored due to the extra crowd in many branches. However, the client's temperature was measured with thermal thermometers at the time of entering the banks.
