Revised Financial Hours for Ramadan

In anticipation of the holy month of Ramadan, revised operating hours have been introduced across Bangladesh’s banking and capital market sectors. The changes were announced in a circular issued by Bangladesh Bank and have come into effect immediately. The adjustments aim to facilitate observance of the month while ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of the country’s financial system.

Adjusted Banking Schedule

Under the new timetable, all scheduled banks will provide customer transaction services from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Bank offices, however, will remain open until 4:00 p.m. to complete internal administrative and settlement procedures.

Ordinarily, banks operate from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with customer transactions continuing until 4:00 p.m. During Ramadan, therefore, office hours have been shortened by two hours, and customer-facing transaction time has been reduced by one and a half hours.

After 2:30 p.m., banks will devote time to back-office functions, including reconciliation of accounts, voucher preservation, interbank settlements, compliance processes, and other administrative responsibilities. The central bank has instructed all financial institutions to ensure that customer service standards are maintained despite the reduced hours.

A designated break for Zuhr prayers will take place between 1:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Nevertheless, banks have been advised to coordinate internally so that essential services remain available during this interval.

Importantly, digital and automated services will continue uninterrupted. These include ATM transactions, internet banking, mobile financial services (MFS), card-based payments, Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), electronic fund transfers, and cheque clearing operations.

Bangladesh Bank itself will observe the same revised office schedule, operating from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., within which policy decisions, interbank settlements, and regulatory oversight will be conducted.

Trading hours at the country’s two principal stock exchanges — Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) — have also been adjusted. Under the Ramadan schedule, trading will commence at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:50 p.m.

In normal circumstances, trading continues until 2:30 p.m. The revised timetable therefore reflects a 40-minute reduction in daily trading hours.

Market analysts suggest that the modest contraction in trading time is unlikely to produce significant volatility or liquidity concerns. Instead, the synchronised adjustment is viewed as a pragmatic step to sustain productivity among fasting employees while preserving investor confidence.

Comparative Overview

Overall, the restructured timetable represents a coordinated effort to balance religious observance with financial stability. The revised hours will remain in effect throughout Ramadan, after which banks, financial institutions, and the capital markets are expected to revert to their standard operating schedules. Stakeholders across the sector express confidence that the temporary adjustment will sustain continuity in financial transactions while honouring the spirit of the holy month.