Digital banking services, including ATM and card transactions, have resumed at around 30 banks after remaining disrupted for two days because of a system migration within the Q-Cash network.
The services returned to normal on Tuesday night, 6 October, following intervention by Bangladesh Bank, according to IT Consultants PLC (ITC), the company responsible for operating the Q-Cash network.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Q-Cash said all services under its network were now operating normally. Customers of the affected banks can therefore use their cards and other digital transaction facilities as usual.
The disruption began at around 9pm on Sunday, 4 October, when a system migration in the Q-Cash network resulted in the temporary suspension of several card-based services. Customers of nearly 30 banks subsequently faced difficulties using ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and other card-related transaction facilities.
The interruption caused inconvenience for customers who rely on electronic banking services for everyday payments and cash withdrawals. ATM access is particularly important for customers who need to withdraw cash outside regular banking hours, while POS and card services are widely used for retail and other payments.
Following the disruption, the affected banks notified customers through text messages that the services might not be restored until noon on 10 October. The notice led customers to prepare for several more days of limited access to card and ATM services.
However, the restoration came considerably earlier than the time indicated in those messages. After discussions and intervention involving Bangladesh Bank, the Q-Cash-operated services were brought back online on Tuesday night, allowing customers to resume normal transactions.
The incident highlights the dependence of multiple banks on shared digital payment infrastructure. A disruption in a common network can affect customers of several institutions simultaneously, even when the individual banks themselves remain operational.
With the Q-Cash services now restored, customers of the affected banks are expected to regain access to their regular ATM, card and POS transactions. The early restoration also reduces the prospect of prolonged disruption to routine digital payments and cash withdrawal services.
