Scheduled banks open on Saturday to facilitate election-related work

Staff Report: PNN

Despite being a weekly holiday, Bangladesh Bank has instructed all scheduled bank branches to remain open on Saturday (27 December). The decision, at the request of the Election Commission, aims to assist candidates in submitting nomination deposits and paying for voter list CDs ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

With the deadline for nomination submissions approaching, keeping banks open ensures candidates face no obstacles in completing financial transactions. The Election Commission noted that bank closures due to consecutive holidays could have caused difficulties for candidates, hence the request to Bangladesh Bank.

The election schedule: voting on 12 February 2026, nomination submissions by 29 December, scrutiny from 30 December to 4 January, withdrawal by 20 January, and symbol allocation on 21 January. Campaigning begins on 22 January.