Banks saw modest business activities on Friday and Saturday, bankers said.
“We have seen a lot of cash withdrawal from all branches,” said Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Pubali Bank. The banks will remain off today, as the nation goes to the polls. “Some of our branches saw 60-65 percent transactions, compared to a normal banking day,” Chowdhury said.
Bangladesh Bank directed all scheduled banks to keep their branches open in 59 districts out of 64 on Friday and Saturday, the two weekly holidays. Banks in five districts—Joypurhat, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Chandpur—were out of the purview of this instruction as there is no elections.

Arifur Rahman, head of United Commercial Bank's New Eskaton branch said his branch handled a good number of customers yesterday. “But Friday was a dull day for us,” he said.
Shahinur Alam, foreign trade in-charge of One Bank at Dhaka Export Processing Zone, also said the same on the cash withdrawal trend. “Basically, our clearing and cash counters were open on these two days. There was no such work for other desks,” Alam said.

Banks remained open on many weekly holidays last year as shutdowns and blockades called by the opposition disrupted services.

Al-hajj Mohiuddin Ahmed has been elected Chairman of Shahjalal Islami Bank Securities Ltd. (SJIBSL) at the 21st meeting of the Board of Directors of the bank recently.

The board meeting was held at the Bank’s Head Office, said a press release.The meeting was presided over by Alhaj Syed Nurul Arefeen, Director of SJIBSL.Alhaj Mohiuddin Ahmed was born in Bangshal in the old city of Dhaka. He is a renowned businessman and Chairman of Rupsha Trading Corporation, Mohiuddin & Company and Pacific Automobiles.

He is the sponsor Director of Shahjalal Islami Bank Ltd. and Islami Insurance Company Ltd. He is also the Director of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries and was Founder Vice Chairman of Southeast University. Mohiuddin Ahmed is engaged with several social welfare organisations since a long.

Four specialised banks will have to fulfil certain conditions to open new branches.
The restrictions were imposed yesterday mainly to minimise the misuse of government funds in the banks.
The Banking Division yesterday sent letters to the four banks -- Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Karmasangsthan Bank, and Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank -- saying they would have to meet six conditions for opening new branches.
As these banks run on government funds they have to follow the guideline, the letter said.
An official of the Banking Division said these banks have many loss-making branches and the restrictions have been imposed to minimise their losses.
The government would give permission for opening new branches only when 80 percent of their branches will become profitable.

A bank will not open a new branch in an area if there is another branch of the same bank within 10 kilometres, according to a condition.
If additional budget and manpower are required for opening a new branch, the proposal has to be sent to the Banking Division along with the recommendation of the board of the concerned bank by September every year.
After obtaining the approval, the proposal will have to be okayed by Bangladesh Bank.
According to a separate condition, the two agriculture-related banks will have to inform the government when the new branches will become profitable.
The banks' 90 percent branches should be at the Union Parishad level, according to another condition.

The central bank yesterday asked all scheduled banks to keep their branches open on January 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) ahead of January 5 polls. The central bank issued the directive to help election officials and the members of law enforcing agencies conduct their cash transaction and clearing activities ahead of the parliamentary election. Banks, however, will remain closed on January 5 (Sunday).

Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited organised a ‘Clients’ Meeting’ to mark the year ending 2013 followed by a banquet at the bank’s Motijheel office in Dhaka on Monday.

Md. Habibur Rahman, Managing Director of the bank was present in the meeting as chief guest, said a press release. AZM Shamsul Alam, founder chairman, Abdul Malek Mollah, Director, Md. Mofazzal Hossain, Kazi Touhidul Alam, Md. Golam Rabbani and Md. Abdul Jalil, Deputy Managing Directors of the bank were also present on the occasion.

Md. Fazlul Karim, Branch Manager and Executive Vice President of the bank hosted the meeting and the banquet. A large number of clients and well-wishers participated in the ceremony.