The operations of the stock market and the wider financial sector in Bangladesh will remain suspended for a continuous four-day period starting today (October 1st), primarily due to the Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations.
This information was confirmed by the Bangladesh Bank and relevant sources on Tuesday (September 30th).
The complete four-day shutdown is a result of a sequence of consecutive holidays:
- October 1st: A holiday declared by a government executive order.
- October 2nd: Holiday for Bijoya Dashami (the last day of Durga Puja).
- October 3rd & 4th: Friday and Saturday, the standard weekly holidays.
Consequently, all financial sector activities, including commercial banks, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), will be closed during this period.
Digital Services to Remain Operational
While physical banking will cease, essential Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Cash Recycling Machines (CRMs), and mobile banking services will continue to function.
A bank’s notice on Tuesday confirmed that all branches, sub-branches, and agent banking outlets would be closed on October 1st and 2nd for Durga Puja. However, digital banking services like ATM/CRM, CellFin, M-Cash, and i-Banking will remain operational.
Reopening Schedule
All banking activities will resume as normal on Sunday, October 5th.
Trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) will also return to its regular schedule on Sunday, October 5th, with transactions commencing at 10:00 AM.
