Bangladesh News

The commercial banks at important business centres will remain open on Saturdays while covered vans and trucks will be allowed to move in Dhaka and Narayanganj during daytime until Sunday.

Bangladesh Bank yesterday reminded the commercial banks to keep their branches open on Saturdays to facilitate foreign trade and transactions.

The central bank allowed the authorised dealer banks to keep their branches open on Saturdays for a limited period through a circular issued on September 15, 2005.

Bangladesh Bank had made the exemption considering the difficulties faced by the foreign trade and transactions since introduction of a two-day weekly holiday.

Meanwhile, the police administration relaxed the restriction on the movement of covered vans and trucks during the daytime until Sunday.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in a statement yesterday appreciated the decisions by the central bank and the police administration.

It urged the trade body members to take necessary services from the banks.

The statement added that the BGMEA offices in Dhaka, Chittagong and at Chittagong seaport, and banks at the port and Customs House will remain open today.

BGMEA requested the owners of covered vans and trucks to operate their vehicles day and night until Sunday in the interest of the apparel industry.