DOS Circular Letter No. 11: Conducting Banking Service in Limited Scale

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Bangladesh Bank
(Central Bank of Bangladesh)
Head Office
Motijheel, Dhaka-1000
Bangladesh
Department of Off-Site Supervision
DOS Circular Letter No. 11 Date:
21 Chaitra 1427
04 April 2021
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh.
Dear Sir,
In the context of continuing banking services on a limited scale amidst the current situation of coronavirus infection, and in light of the instructions provided in the Memorandum No. 04.00.0000.514.16.003.20.111 dated 04 April 2021 of the Cabinet Division of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the following instructions are issued regarding the continuation of banking operations on a limited scale from 05 April 2021 to 11 April 2021, considering the current situation of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection:

1. Daily banking transaction hours from 05 April 2021 to 11 April 2021, excluding Saturdays and government holidays, are fixed from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. In this regard, concerned bank branches and relevant departments of the Head Office may remain open until 2:00 PM in the afternoon if necessary to complete ancillary transaction activities.

2. During the transaction period from 05 April 2021 to 11 April 2021:
   a) Banks will arrange and deploy necessary manpower and their presence at the Head Office and branches to continue/uninterrupted provision of essential banking services. In this regard, the presence of staff/employees residing near the branch may be considered on a priority basis. Along with continuing public interest banking services, it is necessary to ensure that the presence of staff/employees and adherence to health rules in the office environment are properly followed as per government and Bangladesh Bank instructions. b) It is necessary to ensure facilities for all types of deposits and withdrawals in customers' accounts, issuance and deposit of Demand Drafts/Pay Orders, acceptance of Treasury Challans, distribution of allowances/grants under various government social programs, payment of foreign remittance authorizations, domestic and inter-branch fund transfers, cashing of maturity of NRB Bonds and various types of National Savings Certificates, payment of coupon amounts, and collection of utility bills (e.g., gas/water/electricity/telephone) where applicable, along with other transactions under various payment systems/clearing arrangements operated by Bangladesh Bank.

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-02- c) For banks with online facilities for cash deposits and withdrawals, if multiple branches exist within 2 (two) kilometers of each other in City Corporations and District Headquarters, banking operations may be conducted through internal coordination by ensuring customer transaction facilities through one convenient branch (excluding Authorized Dealer branches). However, customers of the closed branch must be informed by displaying a notice in a visible place at that branch. In addition, other branches of banks without online facilities must remain open. d) Under special arrangements, release of funds for previously approved and pending loans, programs under various incentives, payment of wages/allowances to workers in labor-intensive industrial areas, and purchase of export bills subject to compliance with existing loan regulations, as well as continuation of loan approval and disbursement, must be maintained. e) Transactions must continue at Foreign Trade (Authorized Dealer) branches for conducting important and urgent foreign transactions. f) In accordance with DOS Circular Letter No. 24 issued on August 05, 2019, regarding keeping bank branches/sub-branches/booths located in sea/land/air port areas (Port and Customs areas) open round the clock, appropriate measures must be taken in consultation with local administration and port/customs authorities to ensure adherence to health rules.

3. Concerned banks will decide on their own regarding the schedule and program of Agent Banking transactions.

4. To facilitate the continuation of transactions via ATMs and cards, arrangements must be made to supply sufficient notes to ATM booths and keep internet banking facilities round the clock where applicable. Necessary health protection/sanitization arrangements must be ensured at ATM booths.

5. Until further instructions are not issued, evening banking operations of banks and, where applicable, Saturday holiday banking operations will remain closed.

These instructions are issued under the powers conferred by Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

Yours faithfully,
Md. Anowarul Islam
General Manager
Phone: 9530093