Banks’ transaction now from 10am to 12 noon

Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday cut banks’ transaction time by four hours from March 29 to April 2 amid outbreak of coronavirus.

Now the transaction will run from 10am to 12 noon — a step the central bank took only to meet banking emergencies of people during the crisis period. 

However, all banks will operate from 10am to 1:30pm, the central bank says in a notice issued on the day.

Only the required number of branches may be opened for depositing and withdrawing cash, adds the notice. 

AD (authorized dealers) branches can be opened only for emergency foreign transactions.

Earlier, the central bank in a circular on March 22 asked all commercial banks to keep adequate cash at their branches and ATM booths to ensure services to their clients.

The government on Monday declared holidays from March 26 to April 04, aiming to prevent the transmission of deadly coronavirus.

Cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam announced the decision from a meeting at the secretariat.

However, banks, kitchen markets, hospitals and pharmacies will remain open as usual.