Sonali Bank has resumed operations in three of its six shut-down branches in Bandarban following improvements in the situation after a spate of robberies and the kidnapping of the manager at the bank's Ruma branch.
The Bandarban Sadar branch was the only branch which remained operational since the robbery on Tuesday.
"Given the slight improvement in the situation this Thursday and considering the inconvenience to customers ahead of Eid, we have decided to continue transactions in the four less risky branches," Md Osman Gani, deputy general manager (Bandarban) of Sonali Bank said.
However, operations at the Ruma, Thanchi, and Rowangchhari branches still remain on hold due to persistent security threats.
Earlier, Sonali Bank had suspended transactions in six branches across Bandarban following recent looting incidents at the Ruma and Thanchi branches — only the Bandarban Sadar branch remained operational.
Within a span of 16 hours since on Tuesday, three banks in Bandarban were robbed, and the manager of Sonali Bank's Ruma branch was kidnapped.
The first robbery occurred at Sonali Bank's Ruma branch around 8:30pm on Tuesday, followed by the second and third robberies at Sonali Bank's and Krishi Bank's Thanchi branches around noon on Wednesday.
