Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Many commercial banks kept their branches open across the country on Saturday to facilitate transactions of their clients before the extended Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, bankers said.
Most of the foreign exchange branches, officially known as authorized dealer (AD) branches, along with some general branches were kept open on the day in the capital, Dhaka in line with the central bank's directives.
On Thursday, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued a circular saying that the commercial bank may keep all or selective branches open on Saturday to facilitate business transactions across the country before the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
"We kept 40 of our AD branches open across the country to facilitate customers before the Eid vacation," Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Agrani Bank Limited Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed told BBN in Dhaka.
Currently, around 770 foreign exchange branches of all commercial banks are operating their businesses in Bangladesh.
But Mr. Bukhtear did not find any reason to keep all the branches open for one day before the Eid vacation, saying that the businessmen will have to pay additional charges if they want extra services on holidays.
The branches at air, sea and land ports are allowed to operate during two-day weekends to facilitate foreign trade, the central bank of Bangladesh said in a directive issued earlier.
All the branches, including AD, of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) remained across the country.
"We've kept all our branches open to facilitate transactions of our clients before the Eid vacation," Chief of Public Relations of the DBBL Shahazada Basunia said.
Besides, 570 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) booths of the private commercial bank are in operation across the country, Mr Basunia added.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-19September09-11:59 pm (BST)