Q-Cash Services Fully Restored

Digital payment services under the Q-Cash network have been fully restored across around 30 banks after a two-day disruption caused by system migration, technical upgrades and maintenance. IT Consultants PLC (ITC), the operator of Q-Cash, confirmed the restoration on Tuesday night, October 6.

In a notice posted on its social media account Tuesday night, Q-Cash said all services under its network were operating normally. Customers could resume transactions as usual.

Bank Asia also informed customers through a text message around 12:30 a.m. that its ATM, card, point-of-sale (POS), National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB), e-commerce and QR services were fully operational. Customers were advised that normal transactions could resume.

The disruption began after 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, when Q-Cash started system migration and related maintenance work. Card, ATM and NPSB-related digital transaction services of the affected banks were disrupted, causing difficulties for customers using ATMs, cards, POS terminals and some interbank transaction services.

Banks had initially informed customers that the Q-Cash maintenance and migration process could continue until noon on October 10. However, Bangladesh Bank moved to restore the affected services quickly after customers faced difficulties.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh Bank summoned the management authorities of IT Consultants PLC, the operator of the Q-Cash network. The central bank also directed the company to restore all switching and card-related services as quickly as possible. It said necessary measures had been taken to protect customers and ensure continuity of financial transactions.

According to Bangladesh Bank, technical upgrades, system migration and maintenance work on the Q-Cash network had disrupted card, ATM and NPSB-related digital transaction services from 9 p.m. on October 4.

However, banks directly connected to the NPSB platform, mobile financial service providers and other payment service providers continued normal transactions. Other payment systems operated by Bangladesh Bank also remained functional, including the Bangladesh Automated Clearing House, Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network and Real-Time Gross Settlement system.

During the disruption, Bangladesh Bank advised customers to follow instructions from their respective banks and use alternative payment platforms where necessary.

With Q-Cash services restored within hours of the central bank's directive, customers of the affected banks can now resume normal card and digital transactions.

//DBTech/BNN/BVO/SMC//