Banking hours extended seeing as people rush to branches
The central bank yesterday extended the banking time by half an hour after clients rushed up to branches to withdraw cash as the united states is set to get into a strict lockdown from April 14 to tame the raging coronavirus.
Clients can perform transactions between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm on April 12 and April 13, according to a central bank notice.
The Bangladesh Lender had shortened the banking hours from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on April 4, following the government announced a lockdown-like restriction, banning transport movement and closing shops for weekly from April 5.
But the coronavirus situation has not improved. Instead, the quantity of attacks and deaths is increasing alarmingly. This prompted the federal government to create a rigorous countrywide lockdown from April 14.
Bankers of Sonali Lender, Southeast Bank, and South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce said many clientele apprehended that banks may remain closed during the all-out lockdown.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Status Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Fri said that the government was considering a good strict lockdown for weekly from April 14.
It has created the rush at the banks' premises to withdraw money as people feel safe keeping cash at hand during crisis.
Yesterday's BB notice didn't say anything about the banking hours through the strict lockdown period.
Even so, several central bankers have eliminated any closure of banking institutions and suggested people not worry. The central bank is attempting to keep available income at automated teller devices.
Customers will also avail of banking products and services through digital platforms from anywhere and anytime.
The central bank has already increased the transaction ceiling under the booming cellular financial service (MFS) during the lockdown.
A client is now able to send Tk 200,000 monthly instead of the prior ceiling of Tk 75,000.
Besides, people will not count any charge found in sending no more than Tk 40,000 monthly. Clients are allowed to send Tk 10,000 per transaction with no cost.
Earlier, a person was charged Tk 5 to send cash to another person.
