Bangladesh Bank has directed all scheduled banks across the country to remain open on Saturday, 17 October, to compensate for the extended holidays announced for Durga Puja. Regular banking operations will be suspended for three consecutive days, from 20 to 22 October, under the revised holiday schedule.
The decision was announced in a circular signed by Md Abdul Mannan, director of the relevant department at Bangladesh Bank. According to the circular, the revised arrangements have been made in line with a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on 7 October.
Under the revised schedule, all scheduled banks will remain closed on Tuesday, 20 October, Wednesday, 21 October, and Thursday, 22 October, for the Durga Puja holidays. In exchange, the usual Saturday holiday on 17 October has been cancelled, allowing banks to provide their regular services on that day.
The change means customers will have an additional opportunity to complete essential banking transactions before the festival break begins. Those who need to visit branches for routine services, account-related matters or other transactions requiring assistance from bank staff may wish to plan their visits accordingly.
Extended Festival Holidays for Bank Employees
The government announced an additional public holiday on 7 October as part of the arrangements for this year’s Durga Puja celebrations.
Under the original holiday schedule, 20 October was designated a holiday by executive order for Maha Navami, while 21 October was a general public holiday for Vijaya Dashami. The government subsequently declared 22 October an additional holiday by executive order.
The three consecutive holidays will be followed by the regular weekly holidays on Friday, 23 October, and Saturday, 24 October. As a result, bank employees will have five consecutive days off, from 20 to 24 October.
The decision to open banks on 17 October is intended to compensate for the extended closure and maintain a workable banking schedule around the festival. It also gives customers an opportunity to complete transactions before the break, when routine branch services will be unavailable.
Durga Puja is one of the most significant religious festivals for Bangladesh’s Hindu community. The celebrations affect the operating schedules of public institutions and many private organisations. Changes to banking hours can also influence the timing of payments and other financial transactions, making it useful for customers and businesses to check the revised schedule before making arrangements.
Limited Banking Services to Continue at Major Ports
Although regular banking operations will be suspended during the festival holidays, Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to maintain limited services at branches and booths in areas surrounding seaports, land ports and airports from 20 to 24 October.
The arrangements are intended to support import and export activities during the extended holiday period. Banks may coordinate with local administrations, the relevant port authorities and customs officials to organise the necessary services.
Banking facilities are essential to international trade, where payments and other financial transactions often need to be completed in line with shipping schedules and customs procedures. A prolonged interruption could complicate the processing of trade-related transactions. Maintaining limited banking services in key port areas is therefore intended to help prevent avoidable disruption to commercial activity.
The circular allows banks to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with the relevant authorities. However, the nature and availability of services during the holiday period will depend on the arrangements made by individual banks and the requirements of the respective port areas.
Businesses involved in imports and exports may therefore need to contact their banks in advance to confirm which services will be available and whether any special arrangements are required for urgent transactions.
Directive Issued Under Banking Law
Bangladesh Bank said the instruction had been issued in the public interest under Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991. The directive establishes the revised banking schedule while making provision for essential trade-related services during the holiday period.
The arrangements seek to balance the religious festival’s extended public holidays with the need to maintain access to banking services for commercial activities. While ordinary branch operations will resume on Saturday, 17 October, regular banking services will remain suspended from 20 to 22 October. Limited services at designated branches and booths in port areas will continue from 20 to 24 October.
Customers are advised to take the revised timetable into account when planning branch visits and routine transactions. Companies engaged in international trade should also confirm holiday arrangements with their respective banks to minimise the risk of delays.
Under the revised schedule, Saturday, 17 October, will be a regular banking day despite the usual weekly closure. The three-day Durga Puja break will then be followed by the weekend, giving bank employees five consecutive days off while allowing essential banking support for import and export activities to continue at major ports.
