Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Normal banking transactions will take place across the country on Thursday excepting in Dhaka as per announcement of public holiday on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The central bank of Bangladesh has announced a timetable for all scheduled banks in line with the government decision, officials said.

The government has declared public holiday from 2:00pm on February 17 in the capital on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The banks will remain open from 10:00 am to 2.00 pm on the day including prayer and lunch breaks from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. But the banks will make their transactions from 10:00 am to 1:00pm, according to the announcement, issued on Tuesday.

The central bank issued a circular in this connection on the day and asked the chief executives of all banks to follow the new office hours properly for Thursday.

BBN/SI/AD-16Feb11-8:44 pm (BST)