A sudden malfunction of Bangladesh Bank’s server has caused a major disruption in internet and digital banking services across the country.
Sources confirmed that the incident took place around 4:30 PM on Thursday when a power outage and voltage fluctuations caused the central bank’s main server to fail.
Arif Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, stated that the power outage and voltage fluctuations resulted in a complete system shutdown. “All types of inter-bank transactions are currently suspended. Bangladesh Bank’s full team is working to resolve the issue,” he said.
Officials have confirmed that efforts are underway to restore online services, although it remains unclear how long it will take for the server to be fully operational.
Customers reported on social media throughout the night that money transfers had failed, card payments were cancelled, and apps could not be accessed, disrupting urgent transactions.
The server downtime primarily affected internet banking users, disrupting services such as logging in via mobile apps or web platforms, fund transfers, online payments, and credit and debit card transactions. Customers faced significant inconvenience from the afternoon to the night while trying to access banking services.
The disruption also impacted check clearing and local and international payment settlements. The National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB), which manages inter-bank card-based transactions, was temporarily down, halting bank-to-bank transfers.
Several banks issued notices to customers, stating, “Due to technical issues at Bangladesh Bank, NPSB services are temporarily unavailable. Efforts are being made to resolve the issue. We apologise for the inconvenience.