ATM Cash Shortage Crisis Hits Major Cities in Bangladesh
Capital city Dhaka and other urban centers in Bangladesh are facing a severe shortage of cash at automated teller machines (ATMs), leading to widespread customer distress. Bank officials claim the issue stems from security concerns that have forced them to suspend services provided by third-party providers.
Shahidul Islam, a resident of Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, shared his experience: “I went to withdraw money from a Dutch Bangla Bank ATM last Thursday evening, but found most booths without cash. I’m left in a big problem.”
Farhad Hossain Ujjal, a banker himself, echoed the sentiment: “I had cash at the beginning of the week, but by Friday morning, it was gone. The ATMs were closed and no cash was available.”
Customers across the country are facing difficulties accessing cash, leading to widespread inconvenience and financial hardship. The situation is particularly dire in urban centers, where ATM transactions have surged in recent years. Data from the Central Bank reveals that transactions have doubled in the past four years, reaching 29 trillion Bangladeshi Taka in January 2024.
Bankers assure the public that the situation is temporary and expect to restore normal cash supply to ATMs by the end of the week. They maintain that security concerns are the primary reason for the temporary suspension of third-party services.