Banks will remain open on Thursday in Dhaka and other areas where garments factories are concentrated, Bangladesh Bank said in a notice yesterday.

Banks are also allowed to open all or specific branches on Saturday, ahead of the Eid festival.

The branches of all commercial banks in Dhaka, Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Khulna and Chittagong will remain open from 9:30am to 12:30pm on Thursday, to help garments industries pay wages and allowances to its employees, the central bank said.

A long holiday starts Aug 15, to be capped by Eid celebrations in Bangladesh on Aug 19 or a day later.

“Some of our branches will remain open to serve the garment industry,” said Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Pubali Bank, admitting the BB circular in this regard.

Banks will reopen on August 22.

The Daily Star/Bangladesh/  13th Aug 2012