Photo: Collected
Banks and the stock markets across the country will remain closed for five consecutive days as the Durga Puja holiday runs into the weekly holiday. The Puja holiday falls on 20 to 22 October, followed by the Friday-Saturday weekly holiday on 23 and 24 October, so there will be no banking operations throughout this period.
Bangladesh Bank issued a notification to this effect on Sunday. It instructed banks to stay open on 17 October (Saturday), even though it is a weekly holiday. Banking operations will run normally that day, as on any other working day.
Because of the bank holiday, there will also be no trading during those days on the country’s two stock markets, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).
However, to keep imports and exports running during the Puja holiday, limited services will be available at bank branches and booths located at sea ports, land ports and airports. Bangladesh Bank has asked the banks concerned to take the necessary measures in coordination with port and customs authorities and the local administration.
The Ministry of Public Administration had earlier, on 7 October, announced a public holiday for Durga Puja from 20 to 22 October. It also announced that government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices would remain open on Saturday 17 October.
