Banks to Operate Limited Services During Eid

In a move aimed at sustaining essential economic activity during the extended public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, the Bangladesh Bank has issued fresh guidelines to ensure limited banking services continue uninterrupted. The central bank’s Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department circulated the directive on Monday, 16 March 2026, subsequently reaching the managing directors of all scheduled banks across the country.

The directive focuses on maintaining crucial financial operations, including import-export transactions, port-related payments, and timely disbursement of wages, bonuses, and festival allowances to workers in industrial zones. Authorities emphasised that these measures are designed to prevent disruption in both international trade settlements and domestic industrial financial flows.

Key Operational Arrangements

From 17 to 23 March 2026, excluding the day of Eid itself, bank branches, sub-branches, and booths in areas adjacent to seaports, land ports, and airports will remain open on a limited scale. This arrangement also applies to official and weekly holidays, ensuring that banks can respond promptly to local administrative, customs, and port-related requirements. As a result, critical functions such as clearance of imported goods, settlement of export bills, payment of customs duties and port charges, and processing of letters of credit will proceed smoothly.

For industrial zones, special arrangements have been made on 18 and 19 March. Banks in major industrial hubs will operate from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a short break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15 pm to 1:30 pm. Customer transactions, however, will be available from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The schedule covers high-density garment production areas, including Savar, Gazipur, Tongi, Ashulia, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram, ensuring that workers receive their wages, bonuses, and other allowances on time.

Banks are authorised to adjust customer service hours on 17 and 20–23 March based on local requirements, enabling branches in port areas, customs stations, export-oriented industrial zones, and major commercial centres to remain operational as needed. However, if Eid falls on 21 March, all banking operations will remain suspended for the day. The main challenge for banks will be maintaining essential services with limited staff while ensuring cash availability, ATM functionality, online banking continuity, and security.

Summary of Key Guidelines

These directives play a pivotal role in ensuring that key financial and commercial activities continue without disruption during the long Eid holiday, sustaining both trade and industrial operations nationwide.