Bangladesh to keep banks, stock market closed in new coronavirus lockdown

The authorities will keep the banks and the stock market closed during the new weeklong total lockdown beginning on Wednesday to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 April 2021, 02:04 PM
Updated : 12 April 2021, 03:53 PM

The Bangladesh Bank ordered the banks to keep their ATM and online services open during the lockdown.

“There will be no trading on the stock market as the banks will be closed,” said Rezaul Karim, a spokesman for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

On Tuesday, the banks will be open for transaction from 10am to 3pm instead of 1pm as the central bank decided to extend the time ahead of the strict lockdown, said Bangladesh Bank spokesman Serajul Islam.

The Cabinet Division in a set of new lockdown rules ordered a shutdown of all offices and public transports. The government, however, allowed factories to remain open.

It has also ordered a shutdown of all stores and shopping malls to curb the spread of the coronavirus infections.

Daily staples, including kitchen ingredients, can be sold in open places from 9am to 3pm.

Restaurants will be allowed to take orders online or provide takeaway services on specified time slots.

Citizens are barred from going out without an emergency, such as buying medicines and daily staples, seeking medical treatment or the burial of the dead. People are allowed to visit the vaccination centres to get the shot, but they must carry their vaccination cards.