The central monetary authority of the nation, Bangladesh Bank, has officially announced a consecutive seven-day suspension of regular banking operations throughout the country in observance of the upcoming holy festival of Eid-ul-Adha. According to an official regulatory directive issued by the central repository on Monday, 18 May 2026, all scheduled commercial and state-owned banking institutions operating across Bangladesh will remain closed from Monday, 25 May to Sunday, 31 May 2026. Standard financial services and public counters will not be accessible to the general populace during this designated festive period, with normal nationwide operations set to resume fully on 1 June 2026.
The central bank clarified that this definitive administrative scheduling has been executed in strict alignment with a gazette notification previously finalized by the Ministry of Public Administration on 14 May. To ensure a smoother travel window for Eid vacationers, the government approved an executive order extending the holiday timeline.
However, to effectively manage the anticipated surge in financial transactions and substantial public pressure prior to the week-long closure, Bangladesh Bank has structured compensatory operational measures. Under these temporary arrangements, the Ministry of Public Administration officially cancelled the standard weekly holiday on Saturday, 23 May. Consequently, all branches and sub-branches of scheduled banking institutions across the country will remain fully open and conduct normal transactions on Saturday, 23 May, and Sunday, 24 May 2026, under their regular working hours, making 24 May the final full working day for the financial sector before the festival.
Specialized Windows for Garment Sector Hubs
Recognising the urgent cash requirements within the country’s macroscopic export engine, the central bank has formulated specific regulatory exceptions to ensure the seamless distribution of financial dues to ready-made garment (RMG) sector workers. To facilitate the timely disbursement of monthly salaries, festival bonuses, and outstanding institutional allowances to factory employees ahead of the festival, designated industrial zones will maintain access to localized banking services on 25 May and 26 May 2026.
According to the official circular sent to the chief executives of all scheduled banks, the areas selected for this targeted economic intervention encompass the Dhaka metropolitan area, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and the port city of Chittagong. Selected banking branches situated within these specified garment-dense clusters will operate with limited staff and heightened security protocols during the first two days of the national holiday sequence. Bangladesh Bank has mandated that the administrative office hours for these industrial branches will extend from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, whereas active financial transaction windows for public counters will be accessible strictly from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm.
Strategic Infrastructure Hubs and Administrative Compensation
Beyond the manufacturing zones, the central bank has enacted strict operational provisions designed to prevent logistical disruption across vital international trading channels and maintain the momentum of foreign trade. Following requests from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to prevent cargo congestion, the monetary regulator has instructed that select bank branches, sub-branches, and specialized currency booths located within major maritime ports, land customs stations, and international airport customs areas must remain active.
These border facilities are required to continue rendering necessary import and export financial services throughout the entire holiday stretch from 25 May to 31 May 2026. The central bank’s circular specified that these port-linked desks must remain functional on a limited scale to support round-the-clock customs clearing operations, excluding only the specific calendar day upon which the Eid-ul-Adha festival officially falls.
To maintain optimal operational efficiency during these non-standard holiday shifts, the central banking authorities have directed local bank managements to organize sufficient staff rotation plans and coordinate closely with local administrations. The official regulatory text explicitly noted that all banking officers, cashiers, and ancillary support staff who are formally deployed to fulfill professional duties during these public holidays will be legally entitled to receive compensatory financial allowances. These institutional payments must be accurately calculated and distributed by commercial managements in comprehensive accordance with the established statutory rules and governmental codes governing national public holidays.