Banks are running to a limited extent during the lockdown. Sundays are also closed. As a result, people depend only on automated teller machines- ATMs to withdraw cash. But the machines are going out of cash; Internet connections are also disrupted. Some of the machines go out of order.
Customers have complained of such problems from various Dutch Bangla ATM booths in the country.
Mohiuddin Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Subscribers’ Association, complained that the problem of ATM booths and other banking services of Dutch Bangla Bank which is one of the most widespread and most popular commercial banks in the country has been exacerbated during lockdowns.
Mentioning himself as a witness to this suffering, he said that Dhania Branch has been serving a large number of customers in this area for a long time. The company is currently providing services at only one ATM booth in a densely populated area like this. Although there are five machines in this booth, one or two machines are always out of order. There is a problem of not having internet and slow internet. Since yesterday, customers have been suffering due to lack of money in this ATM booth till half-past one in the afternoon. ‘This is going out of cash’ written on every machine.
Mohiuddin Ahmed said, “Today I went to the ATM booth and found that the customers were leaving the booths unsuccessful. However, as there was no ATM booth within two kilometers of area, the customers were suffering a lot due to the lack of vehicles in the strict lockdown to combat the COVID pandemic.” I myself have spoken to senior officials of the bank about the matter. Bank officials said the problem was due to insufficient funds being released from Bangladesh Bank.
When contacted, DBBL’s public relations officer Sagir Ahmed asked them to contact another official. When contacted, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Digibangla that the shortage was due to an unexpected increase in ATM transactions. We withdrew the money from Bangladesh Bank this afternoon and delivered it. Hopefully, there won’t be a problem in a couple of hours.
