Final day of banking transactions before Eid holidays

With the upcoming nine-day Eid holiday, Thursday marks the last day for regular banking transactions. Starting Friday, banks will be closed due to the weekend, Eid festivities, and special holidays. Normal banking services will resume on Sunday, April 6.

However, on March 28 (Friday) and March 29 (Saturday), select bank branches in garment industry zones will operate for limited hours under special arrangements. Additionally, ATM booths, online banking, and mobile banking services will remain accessible throughout the holiday period.

Bankers anticipate a significant rush at banks on Thursday as customers complete their transactions before the extended break. Cash withdrawals, loan disbursements, foreign remittance exchanges, savings certificate encashments, and profit withdrawals will be available throughout the day.

To meet the increased demand, banks have made necessary preparations by securing funds from the central bank and boosting liquidity. The central bank has ensured an adequate cash supply for Eid transactions. Strict regulatory oversight has kept the call money market interest rate stable, maintaining it between 10 to 12 percent.

Despite high cash demand today, fund managers assure that the call money rate will remain steady as banks have already taken steps to meet customer needs.

On Friday and Saturday, limited banking services will be available in designated areas, including Dhaka Metropolitan, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Valuka, Narayanganj, and Chattogram. On Friday, transactions will be open from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, while on Saturday, banking hours will extend from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Foreign exchange transaction branches will also operate on Saturday under special arrangements. During this period, customers can withdraw and transfer money or cash checks, while exporters will be able to encash their export bills to pay workers' wages and allowances. However, no loan-related transactions will be processed during these days.