Customers flock banks for cash ahead of lockdown

Customers have gone into a state of frenzy as crowds of them could be seen withdrawing cash from the banks across the country, day before the seven-day countrywide lockdown.

The incident has raised concerns about health safety are growing among bank officials in commercial areas.

Even though the government has mandated that banks along with other emergency services will remain open amid the upcoming lockdown from Monday, customers are flocking to the branches of different to withdraw cash on Sunday.

About two hundred men and women could be seen standing in line for Sonali Bank in the Didar Market area of the port city.

A customer, Dr Narayan Chowdhury said, "I have been waiting for an hour since 10 am and I have not been able to enter the bank yet. There are still 40/50 customers standing in front of me."

When asked why customers were standing in line risking covid infection even though banks will remain open, another customer Fahmida Sultana said, "I want to buy the necessary products for a few days together. So cash is needed. Besides we may require cash during the lockdown."

This exact scenario of overflowing crowds in banks could be seen in other spots of the city as well. Most customers were withdrawing cash from the fear of long-term lockdown. 

Bank officials said the pressure of customers was so great that social distancing could not be maintained. As a result, bankers, as well as those who are coming to the banks, were at risk. 

In the interest of everyone's safety, most of the bank officials have demanded the closure of all branches except the corporate branch and the import-export branch (AD branch).

Queues of customers in front of the bank's branches in Agrabad commercial area of Chattogram - extended from the main gate to the other side of the road.

Mia Md Barkat Ullah, branch manager and senior vice president of Islami Bank said, "Even though we have taken precaution such a large number of customers is risky to handle."

According to the branch, more than 500 customers have transacted cash till Sunday afternoon. 

Not only in Agrabad, but bank officials from Khatunganj, Jubilee Road and Station Road, Kadamtali, Pahartali and other commercial areas are also anxious about the banking transactions.

Erfanul Islam, manager of United Commercial Bank Limited (UCB) Khatunganj branch, said almost all banks in Khatunganj are overcrowded for import-export of consumer goods.

"Thousands of cars are bringing goods here every day. Local traders, travelling buyers, are transacting at the bank every day." 

"At this time, keeping the bank open and doing transactions seems to feel like constantly facing death," he added.