Strict 96-Hour Mobile Finance Restrictions Announced

In preparation for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections, Bangladesh Bank has imposed special restrictions on mobile financial services (MFS) transactions, including popular platforms such as bKash, Nagad, and Rocket. The directives came into effect at midnight on Monday, 9 February, and will remain in force until 11:59 pm on Thursday, 12 February, spanning a total of 96 hours.

During this period, while certain essential services remain accessible, key transactional facilities such as cash-in and cash-out will be completely suspended.

Cash-In and Cash-Out Services Suspended

According to Bangladesh Bank, the temporary suspension aims to minimise the circulation of illicit funds and prevent financial irregularities that could influence the electoral process. As a result, customers will not be able to deposit or withdraw cash from agent points during this period. On MFS applications, the icons for these services are currently inactive or displayed in a different colour to indicate their unavailability.

Limited “Send Money” Transactions

For urgent transfers, customers may continue to use the “Send Money” feature; however, strict limits have been imposed. Each transaction cannot exceed BDT 1,000, and a maximum of 10 transactions per day is permitted. Consequently, the total daily transfer limit per user is BDT 10,000.

Unrestricted Mobile Recharges and Payments

To minimise public inconvenience, mobile top-ups, utility bill payments (electricity, gas, and water), and payments for goods and services will remain fully operational. No new limits or restrictions have been introduced for these transactions. Customers can continue to settle bills and make payments directly from their MFS accounts without interruption.

Education and Emergency Fees

Payments for educational institutions and other urgent government-related fees will also remain unaffected. These services will continue as usual under standard procedures.

Rationale Behind the Restrictions

Sources indicate that Bangladesh Bank has taken these precautionary measures to curb potential vote-buying or financial misconduct during the election period. All MFS services are expected to resume normal operations after midnight on 12 February. Various MFS providers have issued apologies to customers for the temporary inconvenience and urged compliance with government directives.

Summary of MFS Restrictions (9–12 February 2026)

The temporary restrictions are a preventive measure to ensure the integrity of the electoral process while maintaining essential financial services for the public.