Dhaka, Nov. 23 -- Bangladesh Bank has suspended all citizen-facing services, including the buying, selling and encashment of national savings certificates, at all of its offices.

The halt also covers prize bond services, the exchange of torn or damaged banknotes, and A-challan transactions, officials said.

The suspension applies to the central bank's Motijheel headquarters, as well as its regional offices in Chattogram, Khulna, Bogura, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Sadarghat, Barishal and Rangpur.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the central bank had announced that citizen services would cease from Nov 20. With Friday and Saturday being weekly holidays, the suspension effectively came into force on Sunday.

In its statement, the central bank sai...