The ongoing banking transaction hours from 10am to 3pm will continue until June 16 as the government has extended the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.
In a circular on Sunday, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said the directive will be applicable for all banks in compliance with the Cabinet Division's latest directives to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
Banks will be allowed to keep offices open until 4:30pm to carry out their operational activities.
Normally, banks operate from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
The government announced extension of the ongoing nationwide lockdown until June 16 midnight as the coronavirus situation has shown little sign of improvement.
Bangladesh Bank said that all instructions announced earlier through a circular on April 13 will remain unchanged.
The April 13 circular said banks can keep one non-AD branch open within a 2km radius in the city corporation areas and at upazila areas. In addition, Level-1 branch of each bank can remain open on Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday.
In the same circular, banks were instructed to ensure smooth operation of ATM booths by supplying adequate cash in machines to facilitate card transactions.
Evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will continue to remain closed until further notice.
Banks will have to operate with limited staff under a roster system and provide transportation for them.
The central bank also asked banks to ensure several services during operating hours, including clearing of cheques, withdrawal and deposits of money, money transfer, release of remittance, encashment of different instruments, and receipts from bill payments of other utilities.
At the same time, banks will continue to offer services like disbursement of loans, incentives, payment of salaries of different industries, and the purchase of export bills, loan sanction, and distribution.
Banks have to follow instructions for keeping branches located in port areas open in collaboration with the local administration and other authorities, as per the circular issued on August 5 last year, it said.
