Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 28th December 2025, 5:39 AM
Bangladesh Bank has officially announced that depositors of five banks currently undergoing consolidation will need to wait before accessing their funds. The central bank has made it clear that no immediate withdrawals will be possible within the current fiscal year.
Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank, stated on Saturday, “We wish to inform all depositors that they should not expect access to their funds before the end of this year. The exact date when withdrawal operations will commence has not yet been determined.” He further explained that a mechanism is being prepared to allow withdrawals of up to BDT 200,000, although this will not take effect immediately.
Recent social media claims suggesting that withdrawals would begin from 29 December have been dismissed by Bangladesh Bank as “baseless and false.” Mr Khan cautioned the public against falling prey to misleading information circulating online.
The five banks—First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, and Union Bank—will merge to operate under the new entity, Combined Islami Bank PLC. According to sources familiar with the process, the transfer of account data is in its final stages and is expected to be completed within the coming week.
Once the data migration is complete, the withdrawal process will operate as follows:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Account Transfer | All existing accounts will be automatically migrated to Combined Islami Bank; no new application or additional steps will be required. |
| Withdrawal Limit | Depositors will be able to withdraw up to BDT 200,000 using their current chequebooks. |
| Excess Balances | Any amount exceeding BDT 200,000 will remain secure in the account, continuing to accrue interest at the prevailing rate. |
Arif Hossain Khan emphasised, “We are committed to ensuring a safe and seamless transition for all depositors. Their funds will remain secure, and their interests protected.”
Bangladesh Bank highlighted that this controlled withdrawal scheme and the consolidation process are part of broader measures to restore stability to the banking sector. The initiative is designed to address liquidity shortages arising from previous irregularities, safeguard depositors’ interests, ensure the sustainability of the banking system, and rebuild public confidence in financial institutions.
By implementing a phased withdrawal system, authorities aim to maintain fund accessibility while safeguarding the stability of the newly merged bank. The central bank assures that depositors’ money will remain fully protected throughout the transition period.
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