Banking transactions will continue if lockdown is declared locally by the metropolitan or district administration to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection.
This instruction was given to all the scheduled banks in a notification of Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday.
Even if the metropolitan or district administration issues a lockdown locally to prevent the spread of coronavirus-related rage (COVID-19), the bank will negotiate with the concerned administration, according to the central bank's circular.
The circular said that in such cases, the concerned administration should be informed about the smooth movement of the officers / employees of the branch.
BB said the directive was issued under the powers conferred by Section 45 of the Banking Companies Act, 1991.
The local administration has announced a seven-day lockdown in Chapainawabganj district from 12 midnight on Monday to bring the corona infection under control.
At this time, shops in the district and inter-district road communication will be closed but only emergency services will remain open to combine life and livelihood.
Bangladesh Bank officials said, now is the mango season. Significant quantity of mango is supplied from Chapainawabganj every year. For this reason, the transaction of money in that area increases at this time as selling mangoes is the main income source of people of the region.
In this situation, Bangladesh Bank gave this instruction to keep the bank open after discussing with the local administration.
Meanwhile, banks all over the country have continued operation on a limited scale from May 24 to May 30 as Bangladesh Bank (BB) has extended the operation time by half an hour in line with the extension of the restriction enforced by the government to check the Covid-19 infections, said the central bank in a circular on Sunday.
Bank clients have been allowed to do banking activities from 10am to 2:30pm, according to the circular.
However, branches will also remain open till 4pm for completing their regular procedures.
