News Desk: Bank officials and employees have been instructed to pay transport or travel allowance in the lockdown. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Banking Regulation and Policy Department of Bangladesh Bank last Thursday.

The directive, sent to the chief executives of all scheduled banks operating in the country, said the government imposed restrictions on special needs banking from April 14 to April 21 and later extended it from April 21 to April 28.

In this situation, the officers and employees of the bank were instructed to take necessary steps by the concerned bank to bring them to their respective offices. However, it is to be noted that during the restrictions announced by the government, the bank has failed to provide the necessary vehicles for the officers and employees in all cases. Bank officials and employees are facing high cost and suffering due to insufficient public transport to and from the bank.

The directive further said, ‘The bank will ensure its own transport facilities for its officers and employees in the management of the bank to solve the travel problems of its officers and employees. If for any reason he is unable or unable to ensure travel facility, the bank will provide travel allowance at reasonable rate by the management for coming and going. In this regard, the Board of Directors of the respective banks will take post-approval of the expenditure at a later date. The instructions in this circular letter will be applicable from April 14 during the period of restrictions announced by the government.