Bangladesh Bank Revises Ramadan Payment System Hours

In anticipation of the holy month of Ramadan, Bangladesh Bank has announced a significant adjustment to the operating hours for the nation’s primary electronic payment systems. In a circular dispatched to the managing directors and chief executives of all scheduled banks on Monday, 16 February 2026, the central bank outlined new timings for the Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN) and the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system.

The revision is part of a broader seasonal adjustment aimed at accommodating the shortened working hours observed by bank staff and customers during the fasting month. These changes are crucial for businesses and individuals who rely on seamless interbank transfers for payroll, vendor settlements, and high-value transactions.

Understanding the Systems

To appreciate the impact of these changes, one must distinguish between the two primary pillars of Bangladesh’s digital financial architecture:

BEFTN (Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network): This system facilitates the “batch” processing of transactions. It is the backbone for recurring payments such as corporate salaries, government social safety net allowances, loan instalments, and utility bill settlements. Because it processes transactions in groups, it is highly efficient for high-volume, low-value transfers.

RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement): Designed for urgency and precision, RTGS settles transactions individually and instantaneously. It is typically utilised for high-value corporate transfers (usually above 100,000 BDT) and interbank settlements where “real-time” finality is essential.

The Revised Ramadan Schedule

The temporary schedule represents a notable contraction in the window available for electronic settlements. The most significant shift is seen in the BEFTN window, which has been shortened by 90 minutes.

Operational Impact on Businesses

The shortened BEFTN window to just two hours daily places immense pressure on corporate finance departments. Businesses are advised to prepare their “bulk upload” files well in advance of the 11:30 am opening to ensure salary disbursements are not delayed. Similarly, for RTGS users, while the system opens an hour earlier at 9:00 am, the 3:00 pm cut-off is significantly earlier than the standard 4:30 pm close, requiring a shift in afternoon liquidity management.

The central bank has instructed all commercial banks to update their internal systems and inform clients of these changes to prevent any disruption in the domestic payment landscape. Normal operating hours are expected to resume immediately following the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.