Banking services across Bangladesh, including the stock market and all financial sector activities, will be suspended for a continuous four-day period starting October 1st. This information was confirmed by the Bangladesh Bank and relevant sources on Tuesday (September 30th).
The shutdown is due to a series of consecutive holidays:
- October 1st: A holiday declared by government executive order.
- October 2nd: Holiday for Bijoya Dashami (Durga Puja).
- October 3rd & 4th: Friday and Saturday, the regular weekly holidays.
This combined four-day closure will affect all commercial bank branches, sub-branches, and agent banking outlets, as well as the operations of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).
Services to Remain Operational
Despite the closure of physical banking operations, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Cash Recycling Machines (CRMs), and mobile banking services will remain active throughout the holiday period, ensuring customers still have access to essential cash and digital transactions.
Official Confirmation and Reopening
In a separate notice on Tuesday, Islami Bank confirmed the closure for October 1st and 2nd due to Durga Puja, stating that all their branches, sub-branches, and agent banking outlets would be closed. However, their digital services—including ATM/CRM, CellFin, M-Cash, and i-Banking—will continue to operate.
Banking and financial sector activities are scheduled to resume as normal on Sunday, October 5th. On that day, trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will also return to its regular schedule, beginning at 10:00 AM.
