Regulatory Alerts2026-03-09
PSD-2 Circular No. 01: Regarding Uninterrupted Service of ATM, POS, QR Code, Internet Banking, Online e-Payment Gateway & MFS During Eid-ul-Fitr Celebration
Bangladesh Bank's Payment Systems Department-2 has issued PSD-2 Circular No. 01 mandating all scheduled banks, MFS providers, payment service providers, and payment system operators to guarantee uninterrupted transaction services across ATMs, POS, QR codes, internet banking, online e-payment gateways, and MFS platforms during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The directive requires institutions to maintain round-the-clock system availability, ensure adequate cash liquidity, enforce Two Factor Authentication for online transactions, and immediately credit funds flagged with a ‘45’ response code upon settlement. Additionally, entities must proactively mitigate security risks, broadcast customer awareness campaigns via mass media, provide continuous helpdesk support, and strictly adhere to all prior departmental circulars to prevent customer harassment.
50119
Bangladesh Bank (Central Bank of Bangladesh) Head Office Motijheel, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh.
Payment Systems Department-2 Date: 24 Falgun, 1432 9 March, 2023
PSD-2 Circular No.-1
Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh, All Mobile Financial Services Providers, Payment Service Providers and Payment System Operators
Dear Sir/Madam,
Regarding Ensuring Uninterrupted Transactions via ATM, POS, QR Code, Internet Banking, Online e-Payment Gateway & MFS During Eid-ul-Fitr Celebration.
During the holy Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, to ensure uninterrupted transactions for customers through Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS), QR Code, Internet Banking, Online e-Payment Gateway and Mobile Financial Services (MFS), the following instructions are hereby issued to you:
1. Regarding Automated Teller Machine (ATM): a) Ensure round-the-clock ATM services; b) Take immediate action to resolve any technical faults in ATMs at the earliest; c) Ensure adequate cash supply at ATM booths; d) Ensure round-the-clock security arrangements at ATM booths; e) Arrange for inspection of ATM booths by concerned bank officials as necessary.
2. Regarding Point of Sale (POS) & QR Code: a) Ensure round-the-clock POS and QR Code-based transaction services; b) Create awareness among merchants and customers to prevent fraud.
3. Regarding Internet Banking & Online e-Payment Gateway: a) Mandatorily ensure Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for transactions conducted via Account and “Card not Present” transactions on Online e-Payment Gateways; b) Upon receiving the Settlement Report for transactions with ‘45’ response code, the receiving bank shall immediately credit the funds to the beneficiary customer's account on its own initiative.
4. Regarding Mobile Financial Services (MFS): a) Ensure uninterrupted transactions and adequate cash supply at agent points by all banks providing MFS or their subsidiary companies.
5. Miscellaneous: a) Take appropriate measures by payment service providers during the Eid holidays to ensure overall security of systems under the aforementioned services and to mitigate risks; b) Instantly inform customers via SMS Alert Service regarding transaction details of any amount under the aforementioned services; c) Arrange for various types of publicity in mass media to ensure necessary precautions are taken for all types of electronic payment services; d) Take measures to ensure that customers are not harassed in any way during these transactions and provide round-the-clock Help Line assistance; e) Duly comply with all instructions issued in previous circulars by this department.
This matter is of utmost importance.
Yours faithfully,
(Signature) (Md. Sharafat Ullah Khan) Director (PSD-2) Phone: 9530611
Phone: 88-02-9550448, 9554896, IP: 88-02-55685001-6, Fax: 88-02-9530479, Web: www.bb.org.bd