Bangladesh Bank has decided that all scheduled banks in the country will open tomorrow, Saturday, as part of adjusting the Durga Puja holiday. Banking will be shut for three days in a row, from 20 to 22 October, for Durga Puja.
The decision was announced in a recent circular signed by Bangladesh Bank director (SDAD) Md Abdul Mannan.
The circular says that under the public administration ministry’s notification of 7 October, all scheduled banks will be closed on 20, 21 and 22 October (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) for Durga Puja. In their place, banks will operate normally on Saturday, 17 October.
The central bank has also ordered special arrangements to keep imports and exports going during the holiday. Bank branches and booths in seaport, land port and airport areas must keep limited banking services open from 20 to 24 October.
Banks may make the arrangements needed in coordination with the local administration and the port and customs authorities concerned.
Bangladesh Bank said the instruction was issued in the public interest under powers given by section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991.
On 7 October the government declared an extra day’s holiday for Durga Puja. The original holiday list had 20 October off by executive order for Maha Navami and 21 October as a public holiday for Bijoya Dashami. 22 October was later also declared a holiday by executive order.
With the three days of public holiday from 20 to 22 October and the weekend on 23 and 24 October, bank staff get five days off in a row.
To make up for the extra day, the weekly holiday on 17 October has been cancelled. Government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices will be open that day along with banks.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report