Cash crisis at ATM booths ahead of Eid leaves customers in distress

A severe cash shortage has hit various ATM booths across the capital ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Customers are returning empty-handed after finding machines empty, out of service, or waiting in long queues for hours.

On Sunday, May 24, the last working day before the holidays, extra crowds were seen at ATMs across Dhaka since morning. With banks set to remain closed for seven consecutive days, customer pressure to withdraw cash has left many booths quickly depleted.

Similar scenes were observed in Rampura, Motijheel, Magbazar and other areas. Many customers visited multiple booths without success. Even where cash was available, long queues meant hours of waiting.

At Motijheel, customers like Abul Kalam failed to find cash at Trust Bank and Dutch-Bangla Bank ATMs, and had to queue for long periods at bank branches.

Some bank branches also reported cash shortages. At a Uttara Bank branch in Magbazar, customers were told there was no cash available.

Customers expressed anger, alleging that while the central bank issues directives each year, effective implementation is lacking.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan claimed that sufficient cash has been supplied from the central bank. No bank has returned empty-handed, he said. If a bank fails to supply adequate cash to customers through its own management, that is the responsibility of the bank concerned.

Although Bangladesh Bank has issued directives to keep ATMs, mobile financial services, POS and online payment gateways operational during the Eid holidays, questions remain over ground-level implementation.

Banks will remain closed from May 25 to May 31 for Eid-ul-Azha.