Bangladesh Bank has decided to keep all scheduled banks open across the country on the upcoming weekly holiday, Saturday. The decision to keep banks open came after receiving a letter from the Election Commission (EC).
In a circular sent to all banks on Wednesday, the central bank stated, “In order to facilitate the deposit of candidates’ security deposits and the purchase money of voter list CDs through bank drafts or pay orders or treasury challans on the occasion of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, all branches of scheduled banks will remain open on Saturday, 27 December 2025.”
Earlier, the Election Commission had sent a letter to Bangladesh Bank requesting to keep banks open next Saturday.
Thursday is a government holiday on the occasion of Christmas for Christians. The following two days, Friday and Saturday, are weekly holidays. According to the announced schedule, the last date for submitting nomination papers for the election is 29 December.
The EC had sent a letter with the observation that if banks remained closed for three consecutive days, candidates would face problems submitting their nomination papers.
Bangladesh Bank can instruct banks to remain open on holidays during the two Eids and for special needs, such as for the payment of wages and allowances to readymade garment sector workers and for traders at cattle markets to deposit money.
In such cases, Bangladesh Bank has a policy for banks to ensure necessary security at branches and to pay additional money to employees working on holidays at a proportional rate to their salary.
As scheduled banks remain open, Bangladesh Bank’s Payment Section and IT Department are also kept open.
