In line with directives from the central bank, certain commercial bank branches located in garment industry zones are operating today on a limited basis. The instructions, issued by the Department of Site Supervision on 10 March, aim to facilitate essential financial transactions ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.
According to Bangladesh Bank, these temporary measures are intended to ensure that workers, employees, and officers in the ready-made garment sector can access their salaries, allowances, and payments for export bills without disruption. The affected branches will remain open on 18 and 19 March, the official pre-holiday working days.
Branches situated in key garment hubs—including Dhaka Metropolitan Area, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and Chittagong—will remain operational under adequate security arrangements to safeguard both staff and customers.
Banking operations will commence at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 1:00 p.m., with a short break from 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the Dhuhr prayer. While transactional services will close at 1:00 p.m., administrative offices within the branches will continue functioning until 2:00 p.m. Staff on duty during these days are entitled to allowances as per the regulations outlined in the central bank’s notice.
The announcement follows the government’s executive order on 18 March, declaring holidays for the Eid-ul-Fitr festival. The official holiday period begins today, 19 March, during which most bank branches across the country remain closed. Nevertheless, the central bank has authorised selected branches in garment districts to provide limited services to ensure uninterrupted financial support for the sector.
The following table summarises the operational schedule for today:
| Branch Location | Operational Hours | Administrative Office Hours | Prayer Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka Metropolitan Area | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Ashulia | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Tongi | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Gazipur | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Savar | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Bhaluka | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Narayanganj | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Chittagong | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | 1:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m. |
This limited operation ensures that the garment sector can continue essential transactions without delay while observing the national holiday schedule.