Chaitra Sankranti Shutdown Shifts Hill Districts to Digital Banking
All branches and collection booths of financial institutions in Bangladesh’s three hill districts—Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban—remained closed on Sunday in observance of Chaitra Sankranti. As a result, customers have had to rely entirely on digital banking services since morning. Tourists and residents alike are meeting their personal and commercial financial needs through ATMs, CRMs, agent banking, and banking apps. However, transactions through mobile wallets, online banking, and mobile financial services (MFS) have significantly surpassed those at ATM booths in the region.
Bank officials reported a notable increase in the use of online and agent banking services compared to regular days. However, they mentioned that immediate statistical data was not readily available.
According to sources, ATM and CRM booths of Islami Bank remained operational across all three districts. Additionally, the use of Islami Bank's agent banking, CellFin app, iBanking, and mCash services has increased. Other private banks such as Dutch-Bangla Bank, First Security Islami Bank, and BRAC Bank also reported high engagement via digital platforms. However, specific details regarding the digital services of state-owned banks were not available.
It has been reported that commercial clients of government banks had made prior arrangements following earlier notifications, minimizing disruptions. In conversations with several customers, many indicated that they are accustomed to such single-day closures and have adapted well—especially during extended holidays and festive periods like the Bengali New Year. Due to the limited number of ATM booths in the hill districts, residents are already inclined to use online banking and MFS, reducing the impact of the physical bank closures. Nevertheless, with a surge in tourist presence during the holiday, agent banking outlets ensured sufficient cash reserves in advance.
Earlier on Wednesday, April 9, the Financial Institutions and Markets Department (DFIM) of Bangladesh Bank issued a circular referring to a public notice from the Ministry of Public Administration dated March 27. It declared April 13, Sunday, a public holiday in the three hill districts for Chaitra Sankranti. As a result, all branches and booths of financial institutions in these districts would remain closed on that day.
This directive was issued under the authority granted in Section 41(2)(g) of the Financial Institutions Act, 2023. Bangladesh Bank circulated the instructions to the CEOs and managing directors of all operating financial institutions. In a separate notice, the central bank also stated that all branches and sub-branches of scheduled banks in the three hill districts would remain closed on April 13.
