No manual challans from July 1

Bangladesh Finance Ministry has made the automated “A-Challan” system mandatory for depositing all government revenues and receipts from July 1, 2026, ending the manual challan process.

A circular issued on Tuesday said the initiative will increase transparency in public fund management, ensure real-time digital deposits, improve cash management, and help reduce government interest costs.

According to the circular, all government revenues must be deposited into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) at Bangladesh Bank under existing constitutional and treasury rules. All ministries, departments, and subordinate offices have been instructed to use the system for financial transactions.

To streamline this, the government introduced the online “A-Challan” system using a 5-digit economic code during the fiscal year 2018-19 to ensure real-time deposits of revenues.

However, the Finance Division observed that several government offices are still bypassing the TSA framework. These offices continue to use old manual codes to deposit funds and are unlawfully maintaining separate bank accounts at various commercial banks.

This unauthorised practice prevents the government from determining its actual, real-time net cash balance. Consequently, despite having substantial cash scattered across commercial bank accounts, the state is forced to borrow from domestic and foreign sources at high interest rates to meet immediate expenditures.

To curb this fiscal indiscipline and minimise borrowing costs, the government has enforced three immediate directives. With the complete abolition of the manual system, the manual challan system will be completely shut down from July 1, 2026. A 100 percent automated “A-Challan” system must be implemented for all public revenues and other receipts from this date.

Cancellation of Independent Systems

Any separate financial systems or independent arrangements currently active across ministries, departments, directorates, and subordinate offices for collecting and depositing revenues must be cancelled immediately.

Mandatory Fund Transfer by June 30

All funds currently accumulated by government offices in commercial banks must be mandatorily transferred to the TSA at Bangladesh Bank using the designated economic codes through “A-Challan” by June 30, 2026.