Regulatory Alerts2025-03-24
Added
DOS Circular Letter No. 02: Holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr on 3rd April 2025
The Department of Offshore Supervision directs all scheduled banks in Bangladesh to close all branches and sub-branches on Thursday, 3 April 2025, in observance of the government-declared holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr. For the preceding days of 28 and 29 March 2025, banks must operate with limited staff and restricted services during specified hours to support the garment export industry and worker salary payments. Additionally, banks located in port and customs areas may maintain limited import-export operations from 28 March to 5 April 2025, excluding the Eid holiday, in coordination with local authorities. Staff working on the holiday are entitled to allowances as per regulations.
Bangladesh Bank (central bank of Bangladesh) Head Office Motijheel, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh Department of Offshore Supervision DOS Circular Letter No.-02
10 Chaitra 1431 Date: ---------------- 24 March 2025 Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh.
Regarding the closure of scheduled banks on 03 April 2025 on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
Dear Sir,
Through Notification Number-05.00.0000.173.08.006.23-231 dated 23 March 2025 of the Ministry of Public Administration, the government has declared Thursday, 03 April 2025, as an official holiday on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. Consequently, all branches/sub-branches of scheduled banks will remain closed.
-
To facilitate the export bill sales by various establishments related to the ready-made garment industry before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, and to ensure the payment of salaries, bonuses, and other allowances to workers/employees/staff working in the said industry, commercial bank branches in the areas of Dhaka Metropolitan, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj, and Chittagong involved in transactions with the garment industry will operate on a limited scale with a limited number of staff on the government holiday dates of 28 and 29 March 2025, according to the following schedule, ensuring security:
-
Staff/officials performing duties on the holiday will be entitled to allowances as per rules.
-
In accordance with DOS Circular Letter No.-24 issued on 05 August 2019 regarding keeping bank branches/sub-branches/booths located in sea/land/air port areas (Port and Customs areas) open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the concerned banks may take necessary measures in consultation with local administration and port/customs authorities to maintain limited import-export operations on government and weekly holidays from 28 March 2025 to 05 April 2025 (excluding the Eid day) for the purpose of limited scale operations.
This directive is issued in the public interest under the powers conferred by Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991.
Date Office Hours Transaction Hours 28 March 2025 Friday From 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM (Jumu'ah prayer break from 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM) From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM 29 March 2025 Saturday From 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM (Zohur prayer break from 01:15 PM to 01:30 PM) From 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM.
Yours faithfully,
(Md. Bazlur Rahman Sarkar) Director (DOS) Phone: 9530093