Banks in the capital on Sunday witnessed a huge rush of clients who were in long queues for completing their banking activities ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
All banks will remain closed on May 13, 14 and 15 on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB).
In the morning, overflowing crowds of clients were noticed in the banks of different areas in the capital and officials-employees of the banks were hard-pressed to provide services due to the strict health protocols ordered by the government and Bangladesh Bank (BB).
"We are facing huge rush of clients from the morning . . . most of them come to withdraw money as they need cash for Eid purposes," said an official of Paltan branch of Bank Asia.
BB's deputy governor Abu Farah Mohammad Baser said banks will remain closed tomorrow (May 10) on the occasion of Sabe-Quadr. Banks will remain open on May 11 and 12 for clients and if Eid-ul-Firt is celebrated on May 14, some branches of banks will remain open on May 13 for garment workers and exporters, he added.
According to Bangladesh Bank, bank branches in Dhaka city, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattogram will remain open on May 10. These branches will carry out operation on May 13 if Eid is celebrated on May 14, said BB in a circular.
The people concerned in the bank said that there is pressure from the clients, but the lines of customers were getting bigger as they were allowed inside the banks maintaining health instructions of the government.
"There was a long queue in front of my bank in Motijheel even before beginning of the banking activities in the morning. Clients wearing masks were standing in line for an hour and a half to receive services," said an official of IFIC bank.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Mujibul Haque who works in a private company in Motijheel said he went to the Dilkusha branch of Janata Bank to withdraw money. "'I have come to withdraw money because the bank will be closed. I have to wait in line outside the bank for 40 minutes to withdraw the money".
A female customer standing in front of One Bank in Motijheel said that she had had been waiting for over 25 minutes on a line to withdraw money.
The same picture was found in different parts of the capital and there were crowds of customers inside and outside almost all the banks including NBL, Premier Bank, Prime Bank, Dhaka Bank, IFIC and Southeast Bank.
