Dhaka, Feb. 16 -- Trading hours for banks and the stock market have been reduced during Ramadan, with banking cut by an hour and stock market trading shortened by half an hour.

In a notice, Bangladesh Bank said during Ramadan, bank transactions will open at 9:30am instead of 10am and continue until 2:30pm, instead of the usual 4pm.

There will also be a prayer break from 1:15pm to 1:30pm. The central bank has also instructed that transactions continue through internal coordination as usual during the break.

Banks, however, will remain open until 4pm for official work. Trading and office hours will return to their regular timings after Ramadan and Eid.

The country's largest stock market, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) says trading durin...