Banks will remain open on Friday and Saturday ahead of the 7 January national election.

To this end, the Bangladesh Bank on Thursday issued a circular as per instruction of the Election Commission (EC).

As per the circular, branches in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other metropolitan cities, districts, and upazilas will remain open for two days with limited manpower so that the EC Secretariat, returning officers, and related parties can withdraw money.

The central bank also instructed banks to keep the officials who have been given duty as polling officers out of the banking activities.