Banks will remain closed from October 20 to 22 on the occasion of Durga Puja, followed by the regular weekend on October 23 and 24, giving bankers a five-day break.
The biggest religious festival of Hindus is set to begin next Friday.
However, banks will remain open on Saturday, October 17, under their normal working schedules to help customers complete financial transactions ahead of the long holiday, Bangladesh Bank (BB) said in a circular yesterday. The central bank issued the directive after the Ministry of Public Administration declared October 22 a public holiday.
Bank branches in port areas, however, will maintain limited operations from October 20 to 24 to facilitate import and export activities during the holidays and weekend.
The BB has asked banks to coordinate with local administrations and customs authorities to ensure uninterrupted services.