Banks will continue to opearte on limited scale until April 28 in compliances with the government’s decision to extend the ongoing strict lockdown for one week more, said a fresh circular issued by the central bank on Tuesday.
Earlier, Bangladesh Bank directed the banks to operate general transactions from 10 am to 1 pm and keep open until 2:30 pm for necessary works on every working day until April 21.
Later, a new circular issued by the Bangladesh Bank stated on Tuesday to extend such a schedule of limited banking operation until April 28.
All kind of instructions will remain unchanged as per the circular of April 13 where it was said that banks can keep one non-AD branch open within a 2 km radius in the city corporation areas and in Upazila level one branch of each bank can open on Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday, the circular added.
The banks have been instructed to take measures to provide transport facilities for the staff during this period.
The BB circular also said, during the banking transaction hours, the banks have to ensure all kind of services including clearing of cheques, withdrawal and deposits of money, money transfer, the release of remittance, encashment of different instruments and also receipt of the payments of bills of different utilities.
BB said banks have to continue services like disbursement of loans, incentives, payment of salaries of different industries and also the purchase of export bills, loan sanction and distribution.
The banks have to follow instructions in keeping the branches located in the port areas about the coronavirus in discussion with the local administration and other authorities, as per the circular issued on August 5 last year, it said.
The banks have to operate their activities through limited number of staffs under a roster system.
ATM booths to be operated accordingly to facilitate transaction through cards by supply of adequate cash in the machines while the evening banking and weekly holiday banking activities will remain closed until further order, said the circular issued on April 13.
