Banks and Stock Markets to Remain Closed for Five Consecutive Days During Durga Puja

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

Banking operations and stock market trading across Bangladesh will remain suspended for five consecutive days starting Tuesday (October 20) on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja. As the festival holidays coincide with the weekly weekend, the closure will continue until October 24. Banking services and stock market trading are scheduled to resume as usual on October 25.

According to instructions issued by Bangladesh Bank, banks will remain closed from October 20 to October 22 for Durga Puja. The subsequent two days, October 23 and 24, fall on Friday and Saturday, the regular weekly holidays, extending the suspension of banking operations.

However, ATM services will remain available during the holidays to meet customers' essential transaction needs. Customers will therefore be able to withdraw cash and access other services available through automated teller machines.

With banks closed, the country's two main stock exchanges—the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE)—will also suspend all trading for five days. Regular trading is scheduled to resume on October 25.

Meanwhile, to keep import and export activities operational during the festival holidays, arrangements will be made to keep bank branches and booths located in seaport, land port and airport areas open on a limited scale.

The relevant banks have been instructed to coordinate with local administrations, port authorities and customs authorities to take the necessary measures to maintain essential banking services in these areas.

As part of the holiday adjustment, banks and financial institutions had also remained open on the previous Saturday (October 17), despite it being a weekly holiday.

Although regular banking services and stock market activities will remain suspended during the Durga Puja holidays, arrangements have been made to maintain certain limited services, taking into account the need for essential transactions and the uninterrupted operation of the country's import and export activities.