Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the development on Thursday (22 October) evening.
Visitors attempting to access the central bank’s website on Thursday evening encountered a notification reading, “The Service is under Maintenance.”
The message explained that the website was temporarily unavailable because of scheduled maintenance activities. It also assured users that services would be restored as soon as possible.
However, the central bank did not provide a specific timetable for restoring access or disclose further details about the security concerns that prompted the temporary suspension.
The disruption comes amid heightened international concerns over cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting websites and digital systems.
Recent reports have identified two serious security flaws in PHP, a widely used programming language that supports a substantial proportion of websites across the internet. The discovery has raised concerns about the potential exposure of systems relying on vulnerable versions of the technology.
According to a BBC report, cybersecurity specialists have warned that attackers could exploit the identified weaknesses to gain remote access to affected systems and execute malicious code.
Such vulnerabilities can pose serious threats to organisations that depend on online platforms, particularly those responsible for managing sensitive information or delivering essential digital services.
The security flaws were reportedly discovered with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), prompting urgent efforts to address the weaknesses and strengthen protection against potential exploitation.
Cybersecurity specialists warn that vulnerabilities allowing remote code execution can be especially dangerous because attackers may be able to compromise affected systems without requiring physical access.
Depending on the nature of the weakness and the security safeguards already in place, successful exploitation could potentially disrupt online operations, expose confidential information or enable unauthorised activities.
There has, however, been no confirmation that Bangladesh Bank’s decision to suspend its website is directly connected to the recently identified PHP vulnerabilities.
The central bank has also not confirmed that its website suffered a successful cyberattack or that any sensitive information was compromised.
Bangladesh Bank’s official website serves as a key information platform for the country’s banking and financial sectors. It regularly publishes monetary policy announcements, regulatory circulars, banking guidelines, foreign exchange information, economic reports and other important notices.
Its temporary unavailability may therefore inconvenience banks, financial institutions, researchers, businesses and members of the public who rely on the platform for timely access to financial and regulatory information.
The website is particularly important for banking professionals seeking updates on central bank instructions, regulatory developments and policy decisions affecting the financial sector.
Cybersecurity protection remains a critical priority for financial institutions because their digital infrastructure supports essential services and the management of sensitive information.
Security specialists generally recommend that organisations respond promptly to serious software vulnerabilities by assessing their exposure, applying available security updates and reviewing systems for signs of unauthorised access.
Temporarily restricting public access to a website can also serve as a preventive measure when urgent technical assessments or security improvements are required.
The incident highlights the wider challenges facing financial institutions as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and weaknesses in commonly used software create potential risks across multiple sectors.
For central banks and other financial regulators, maintaining the security, reliability and integrity of official digital platforms is particularly important because of the significance of the information they publish.
Bangladesh Bank has indicated that its website will resume normal operations once the necessary maintenance activities have been completed.
As of Thursday evening, however, no specific timetable had been announced for restoring access, leaving users awaiting further updates from the central bank.
