Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The central bank of Bangladesh has instructed commercial banks to ensure operations of ATM (Automated Teller Machine) and POS (Point of Sale) round the clock during the Eid vacation.
“The central bank has taken the measures to ensure the digital financial transactions particularly during the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation,” a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country’s central bank, told BBN in Dhaka.
He also said such transactions normally increase significantly during the weekend and other holidays.
The BB issued a circular in this connection on Monday and asked the chief executive officers and managing directors of all scheduled banks for taking necessary measures to ensure operations of ATM and POS.
The scheduled banks will remain closed from July 1 to July 9 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, a religious festival for the Muslims.
However, certain branches of banks that are in the industrial zones at Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Comilla, Mymensingh and Tangail will remain open on July 2 and 3 with adequate security measures, for the sake of paying wages, bonus and other allowances to apparel and clothing workers.
Talking to BBN, another BB official said the central bank has already asked the banks to take adequate security measures at their ATM booths for avoiding any unwanted incidents.
The banks have been asked to make available cash at ATM booths all time.
Currently, around 7,500 ATM booths are in operation across the country, of which the Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) alone operates nearly 3,500.
The commercial banks must have to inform their clients about any amount of transactions using ATM and POS through sending SMS (Short Message Service) instantly, according to the circular.
Besides, if the services of ATM and POS of any bank remain closed for unavoidable circumstances, they must have to inform the clients instantly.
BBN/SSR/AD