All branches of the scheduled banks will remain open throughout the country this Friday for what authorities said public interest. Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday issued a notification signed by AFM Asaduzzaman, general

manager at governor secretariat of the central bank, in this regard. Earlier in the day, he told the Dhaka Tribune that the move would be finalised at a meeting on Wednesday. The move to keep banks open on Friday,

a holiday, comes in view of poor business environment standards amidst agitation programmes. Most of November and December were wasted in agitation programmes like blockades and hartals of the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

Businessmen said such situation ahead of the January 5 elections were proving a big challenge for trade and business of Bangladesh. Recently, the business community were compelled to come down to the streets demanding an end to the current political impasse.