Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 1st February 2026, 10:40 AM
Bangladesh Bank is preparing to implement tighter restrictions on mobile financial service (MFS) transactions in the lead-up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The move is aimed at curbing illegal money transfers and ensuring a transparent financial environment during the sensitive election period.
Under the proposed plan, customers using popular MFS platforms such as bKash, Rocket, and Nagad may be allowed to transfer a maximum of Tk10,000 per day, with each individual transaction capped at Tk1,000. Discussions are also ongoing to limit the number of daily transactions to ten per customer, though no final decision has yet been announced.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan provided these details on Sunday, 1 February, emphasising that the central bank would act in accordance with official instructions from the Election Commission. “Before every national election, the Election Commission usually issues directives to restrict mobile financial service transactions. However, this time, we have not yet received any formal letter. Bangladesh Bank will take the necessary measures as soon as the communication is received,” he stated.
Currently, MFS customers enjoy significantly higher transaction limits: they can transfer up to Tk50,000 per day via agents and withdraw up to Tk30,000. Person-to-person (P2P) transfers are also capped at Tk50,000 per day, with a monthly limit of Tk300,000. The current system allows up to 50 transactions per day and 100 transactions per month.
The following table summarises the existing limits alongside the proposed restrictions during the election period:
| Transaction Type | Current Limit | Proposed Election Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Daily MFS transfer | Tk50,000 | Tk10,000 |
| Maximum per transaction | No explicit limit | Tk1,000 |
| Daily P2P transactions | Tk50,000 | Tk10,000 total |
| Monthly transaction limit | Tk300,000 | Not specified |
| Number of daily transactions | 50 | 10 |
| Number of monthly transactions | 100 | Not specified |
| Maximum cash withdrawal | Tk30,000 | Not specified |
Sources indicate that these proposed restrictions are designed to minimise the risk of illegal financial flows and electoral manipulation. Officials note that while the measures may cause temporary inconvenience for regular users, the overarching goal is to ensure a fair and secure election process.
Bangladesh Bank has emphasised that it will maintain close coordination with the Election Commission and other relevant authorities to monitor the situation, with the possibility of further adjustments if required.
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