Bangladesh Bank has directed banks to keep their selective branches open on August 18 (Saturday), a public holiday, to facilitate payment of salaries, wages and festival allowances to garment workers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

The central bank issued a circular on Wednesday asking the banks to keep open their branches located in the Dhaka city, Ashulia, Savar, Tongi, Gazipur, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chittagong on Saturday.

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

Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on August 22.