Bank branches at RMG industrial areas to remain open on April 19-21

Staff Reporter
For letting the business and workers’ payment smooth, branches of the scheduled banks will remain open on April 19-21 in the readymade garments industrial areas.
The Bangladesh Bank on Thursday gave directive to the scheduled banks through a circular to keep those branches open during Eid vacation to facilitate payment of garment workers’ salary, Eid bonus, allowances and export-import activities.
The central bank has asked banks to continue operation before Eid-ul-Fitr in the branches located near garments industrial areas in Dhaka city, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram ensuring adequate security.
As per the directives, the clients will be able to do banking between 9:30am and 1:00pm on April 19 and April 20. The banking hours will be between 9:30am and 12:30pm on April 21.
The Department of Off-site Supervision of the Bangladesh Bank issued the circular and sent it to the top executives of the banks to take necessary measures.
Eid-ul-Fitr, is likely to be celebrated in Bangladesh either on April 22 or April 23, depending on the sighting of the Moon.
Meanwhile, the central bank also has asked the commercials banks to ensure smooth and uninterrupted transactions through the automated teller machine, point of sale, internet banking, online e-payment gateway and mobile financial services during the vacation of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The BB instructed through a circular to the banks to ensure adequate security at the ATM booths, create awareness among the merchants and clients to prevent forgery in POS services, keep on running the two factor authentication (2FA) on card not present transaction for online e-payment gateway and inform the clients about transactions through SMS service.
It also directed the banks to provide help line services during the vacation, if any client faces harassment.
The officials of the central bank asked to be careful about smooth Eid vacations of the clients in case of financial issues.