ZCZC
BSS-41
BB-BEFTN
BB to keep BEFTN platform open on April 1, 2
DHAKA, March 25, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh Bank (BB) has taken a decision to keep open the Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN) system on April 1 and 2 for completing all transactions including disbursement of salaries and allowances of the government officials and employees.
“BEFTN platform will remain open on April 1 and 2 for completing all transactions, including the disbursement of salaries and allowances of the government officials and employees,” said a BB circular issued here today.
Through a circular on Tuesday, the central bank instructed all private and public banks to keep the banking activities limited during the general holidays declared by the government from March 29 to April 2 to facilitate the financial transactions for their clients.
Banks will remain open from 10am to 1:30pm during the government-declared general holidays while the transaction will be made between 10am and 12 noon, the circular added.
According to today’s circular, Bangladesh Automated Cheque Processing System (BACPS) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) will remain closed during the general holidays and the National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) platform will remain open during the holidays but the settlement of the transactions will be done on the next working days.
In another circular, BB asked the banks to continue the issuance of the DD or Pay orders during the general holidays. The government has declared a nationwide 10-day holiday shutting down government and private offices excepting essential services and healthcare facilities from March 26 to April 4 over the COVID-19 situation.
Among the holidays, March 26 is a public holiday, March 27-28 the weekend, while general holiday was declared for five days from March 29 and the weekend of April 3-4 would be included into the vacation.
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