The Bangladesh Bank has announced a formal adjustment to the operational windows for the nation’s primary electronic payment systems, the Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN) and Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS). These changes, communicated via a circular issued on Monday, 16 February 2026, are designed to align financial infrastructure with the shortened banking hours observed during the holy month of Ramadan.
Strategic Adjustments to Interbank Transfers
According to the central bank’s Payment Systems Department, the revised schedule aims to facilitate seamless liquidity flows while accommodating the modified workday for bank employees. The primary shift involves a notable compression of the BEFTN window and a temporal shift for RTGS operations.
Under the new directives, BEFTN—the workhorse of bulk payments—will see its afternoon session truncated. Previously operating until 3:00 pm, the system will now conclude processing at 1:30 pm. This network is critical for the national economy, handling essential high-volume transactions such as:
Corporate Payroll: Monthly salary disbursements for private and public sector employees.
Government Remittances: Social safety net payments and pension transfers.
Commercial Obligations: Vendor payments and the settlement of monthly loan instalments.
Conversely, the RTGS system, which facilitates high-value, instantaneous transfers, will begin an hour earlier at 9:00 am and cease operations at 3:00 pm. Unlike BEFTN, which processes transactions in batches, RTGS is a “gross settlement” system where each transfer is handled individually and immediately, making it indispensable for time-sensitive corporate deals and large-scale interbank settlements.
Comparison of Operational Hours
The following table highlights the transition from standard operating hours to the temporary Ramadan schedule:
| Payment System | Regular Timing | Ramadan Timing | Net Change |
| BEFTN | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm | 1.5 Hours Shorter |
| RTGS | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm | Shifted & 0.5 Hours Shorter |
| Customer Banking | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | 9:30 am – 2:30 pm | 1 Hour Shorter |
Implications for Businesses and Consumers
Financial analysts suggest that businesses should plan their liquidity requirements earlier in the day to avoid the risk of transactions being pushed to the following business day. The compression of the BEFTN window, in particular, requires payroll managers to submit files well before the 1:30 pm cut-off to ensure timely credit.
The Bangladesh Bank has instructed all scheduled banks to update their internal systems and inform clients of these changes immediately to prevent any disruption in the domestic payment landscape.