The Bangladesh Bank today asked banks to keep their doors open and run operations on a limited scale on April 30, a public holiday, in order to settle the increased number of financial transactions ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

In 2022, the number of banking transactions have increased substantially year-on-year, which has also fuelled cash withdrawals and deposits with banks, according to a BB notice.

Clients will be able to do banking between 9.30am and 1pm on Saturday, after which bankers have to complete their relevant work by 2.30pm.

In addition, the central bank asked banks to keep their selective branches open on Friday (tomorrow) to facilitate payment of salaries, wages and festival allowances to garment workers.

The branches located in the Dhaka city, Ashulia, Savar, Tongi, Gazipur, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattogram will have to remain open.

The garment factory owners will have to pay salaries, wages and festival allowances for Eid-ul-Fitr to their workers in time.

On Friday, clients will be allowed to settle their banking transaction between 9.30am and 12.30pm in the areas, after which bankers will be permitted to complete their relevant operations by 3pm.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of the Muslims, is scheduled to be celebrated either on May 2 or 3 depending on the sighting of the moon.