Government employees on duty through weekly holiday before Eid closure

Banks are seeing heavier footfall than usual

Government offices, courts and banks are open on the weekly day off ahead of a seven-day Eid ul-Azha holiday starting Monday.

Attendance is thin at public offices on Saturday, however, as some employees have taken two extra days off to coincide with school and college closures and head home early.

Banks, by contrast, are packed with customers, driven largely by Eid cattle purchases and salary and bonus payments.

Senior government official Jasim Uddin explained that while ministers and secretaries are actively attending office, the administrative pressure is relatively low as some personnel remain absent.

On the other hand, financial institutions are experiencing an overwhelming rush of clients securing funds ahead of the cattle market sales.

A commercial bank official said transactions are running higher than a typical day. "There is more footfall than usual. Transactions are heavier because of Eid purchases and salary and bonus payments.”

Banks will remain shut for the same seven days as the government holiday, reopening on Jun 1.

Both Saturday and Sunday will see all government offices, courts and bank branches operating on normal schedules before the holiday begins.

Selected bank branches near garment industries will also stay open on a limited basis on May 25, a Monday, and May 26, a Tuesday, to help factories pay wages, bonuses and allowances to workers before the break.

Bank branches, sub-branches and booths at seaports, land ports and airports have also been instructed to maintain limited import-export operations through the holiday.

All government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous and private offices will remain closed from May 25 to May 31.