Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the development on Thursday (22 October) evening.
Visitors attempting to access the central bank’s website on Thursday evening encountered a notification stating, “The Service is under Maintenance.”
The notice explained that the website was temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance activities. It also assured users that normal services would resume as soon as possible.
However, the central bank did not specify when the website would become fully operational again or disclose further details about the security issues that prompted the precautionary shutdown.
The temporary suspension comes amid growing international concerns over cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting websites and digital infrastructure.
Recent reports have highlighted two serious security flaws in PHP, a widely used programming language that supports a substantial proportion of websites worldwide. The discovery has prompted concerns about the security of systems that may be exposed to exploitation.
According to a BBC report, cybersecurity specialists have warned that attackers could potentially exploit the vulnerabilities to gain remote access to affected systems and execute malicious code.
Such security weaknesses can pose significant risks to organisations that rely heavily on internet-based platforms, particularly those handling sensitive information or providing essential digital services.
The vulnerabilities were reportedly identified with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), prompting urgent efforts to address the weaknesses and strengthen protection against possible cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity specialists have warned that vulnerabilities allowing remote code execution can be especially dangerous because attackers may be able to compromise affected systems without requiring physical access.
Depending on the severity of the weakness and the safeguards already in place, successful exploitation could allow unauthorised activities, disrupt online services or expose sensitive information.
There has, however, been no confirmation that Bangladesh Bank’s decision to suspend its website is directly connected to the recently identified PHP vulnerabilities.
The central bank has also not reported a successful cyberattack or confirmed that any confidential information has been compromised.
Bangladesh Bank’s official website serves as an important information platform for the country’s banking and financial sectors. It regularly publishes monetary policy announcements, regulatory circulars, banking guidelines, foreign exchange information, economic reports and other official notices.
Its temporary unavailability may therefore cause inconvenience to banks, financial institutions, researchers, businesses and members of the public who depend on the platform for timely access to financial and regulatory information.
The website is particularly important for financial professionals seeking updates on central bank instructions, policy changes and developments affecting the country’s banking system.
Cybersecurity remains a critical concern for financial institutions because their digital infrastructure supports essential services and the exchange of sensitive information.
Security experts generally recommend that organisations respond promptly to critical vulnerabilities by reviewing their systems, applying available security updates and strengthening safeguards against unauthorised access.
Temporarily restricting public access to a website can also be a preventive measure when urgent technical assessments or security improvements are required.
The incident reflects the wider challenges facing financial institutions as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and vulnerabilities in widely used software create potential risks across different sectors.
For central banks and other financial regulators, maintaining the integrity and reliability of official digital platforms is particularly important, given the significance of the information they publish.
Bangladesh Bank has indicated that its website will return to normal operation once the necessary maintenance activities have been completed.
As of Thursday evening, however, no specific timetable had been announced for restoring access, leaving users awaiting further updates from the central bank.
