Bank clients ignore health guidelines, transactions fall

Most clients at commercial banks were seen ignoring the 18-point health guidelines during their transactions on the first day of the week-long lockdown aimed at keeping the novel coronavirus at bay on Monday.

Wearing of face-mask was common among the clients during the rearranged banking hours from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm while the other safety instructions were not followed by the clients on the premises of banks, bank officials said.

A number of clients were also seen arguing with the bank staff when they tried to draw the attention of the clients to sanitise them during entry to the banks, they said.

Maintaining personal distance as safety measure to contain spread of the virus was totally absent, they added.

Meanwhile, all banks experienced low transaction on Monday.

Transaction at banks was less than half on Monday compared to the previous day, said a deputy general manager of the Bangladesh Bank, seeking anonymity.

He said that low transaction did not leave any impact on the clients as they had withdrawn huge amount of money sensing the enforcement of lockdown.

Md Arifuzzaman Arif, senior principal officer at Kazipara branch of Sonali Bank Limted, said on Monday afternoon, “Today’s transaction amount was almost half comparing to the previous day’s transaction.”

He also said that clients wore face-masks during the transaction hours but they were unwilling to follow the other health guidelines.

Rikta Biswas, an officer at Jaikali Mandir Branch of Pubali Bank Limited, said that transaction and the presence of clients were low at her branch as the online transaction limit was increased.

Md Abul Bashar, a senior officer at Bangshal branch of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, said that there were long queues at the transaction booths but the clients ignored health guidelines but only wearing face masks.

Md Abdul Matin, a senior officer at Janata Bank’s Dilkusha branch, said that the presence of clients was poor on Monday compared to Sunday.