BB to halt 5 counter services from next Sunday

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh Bank announced on Tuesday that five types of services will no longer be available at its Motijheel office starting next Sunday. The affected services include the sale of savings certificates, sale of prize bonds, exchange of torn notes, e-challan transactions, and payment of challan-related broken money. Customers can avail these services at the Motijheel office for the last time on Thursday.

The announcement was made through a press release signed by Bangladesh Bank Director and Assistant Spokesperson Saida Khanam. The press release emphasized that no central bank globally provides such services directly to the public at the counter.

Citing security concerns, Bangladesh Bank described its status as a Key Point Institution (KPI), where safeguarding cash and critical operations is paramount. To ensure these standards, the central bank decided to discontinue direct customer services at the Motijheel branch.

The press release added that commercial banks will continue providing these services to the public, and Bangladesh Bank will strengthen supervision to ensure smooth access without disruption.

This move is part of a broader initiative to modernize Bangladesh Bank’s cash department and enhance security at the Motijheel office, which has operated beneath the head office since 1985. Over nearly four decades, the branch has been a direct service point for the public, but evolving security needs and modernization efforts have prompted this strategic shift.