Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Elections, Bangladesh Bank has introduced stringent, time-bound restrictions on the country’s Mobile Financial Services (MFS) sector. The directive affects all major providers, including bKash, Nagad, and Rocket, with the measures taking effect from midnight on 9 February and remaining in force until 11:59 pm on 12 February, spanning a total of 96 consecutive hours.
The central bank stated that the temporary curbs aim to prevent illegal money transfers, curb vote-buying, and mitigate potential subversive activities during the election period. While some routine transactions will remain accessible, essential cash-in and cash-out functions will be completely suspended, causing temporary inconvenience for everyday users.
Key Changes:
During the restriction period, cash-in and cash-out services will be fully disabled. This means customers cannot deposit money into their MFS accounts at agent points, nor can they withdraw cash. The apps of MFS providers reflect this change, showing these options either deactivated or in a different colour. Both agents and customers are equally bound by these restrictions.
For urgent transactions, send-money services will continue but with limits. Each transaction will be capped at 1,000 BDT, with a maximum of ten transactions per day, allowing an individual to transfer up to 10,000 BDT daily.
To minimise disruption for the general public, several services remain fully operational. Mobile top-ups, electricity, gas, and water bill payments, as well as payments for online and in-store purchases, can continue without restriction. Additionally, educational fees and payments for government or emergency services remain unaffected.
The table below summarises the status of MFS services during the election period:
| Service Type | Status | Limit / Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cash-In | Closed | No transactions allowed |
| Cash-Out | Closed | No transactions allowed |
| Send Money | Limited | Max 1,000 BDT per transaction, 10 transactions/day |
| Mobile Recharge | Active | No additional limits |
| Bill Payments | Active | Electricity, gas, water normal |
| Shopping Payments | Active | Operates as usual |
| Education & Government Fees | Active | Payments allowed under standard procedures |
Bangladesh Bank confirmed that all MFS services will fully resume after midnight on 12 February, restoring normal operations. Meanwhile, providers including bKash and Nagad have expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience and urged customers to comply with government directives.
The move underscores Bangladesh Bank’s commitment to financial discipline and election integrity, even as it balances the operational needs of millions of MFS users across the country.