Bangladesh Bank is discontinuing four major customer services at its Motijheel office, including the sale of savings certificates and the processing of e-challans.
Beginning 20 November, all such services must be obtained through commercial banks, the central bank said Tuesday in an official statement.
The decision means the Motijheel office will no longer handle the sale of savings certificates and prize bonds, the exchange of torn or damaged currency, or e-challan-related services after business hours on 20 November.
The central bank explained that, in most countries, central banks do not provide these services directly to the public.
As a high-security Key Point Installation (KPI), Bangladesh Bank said it is phasing out these customer-facing operations to strengthen its security posture. It added that oversight of commercial banks would be increased to ensure uninterrupted public access to the affected services.
Located directly below the bank’s main headquarters, the Motijheel office has been offering these services since 1985. Officials confirmed that the central bank is also preparing to gradually withdraw similar services from all of its regional branches.
Bangladesh Bank currently provides around 10 types of services through its Motijheel and other branch offices, including selling savings certificates and prize bonds on behalf of the government and the central bank.
Until now, the Motijheel office has operated 28 service counters. As part of modernisation efforts, including the installation of an automated vault and enhanced security infrastructure, 12 of these counters will close after 20 November.
The remaining 16 counters will continue to provide select services, such as coin exchange, sale of commemorative coins, dispute resolution for invalid notes, and certain interbank transactions.
BB Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur has directed officials to prepare plans for phasing out these remaining services as well, both at Motijheel and at regional branches nationwide.
Under KPI security regulations, institutions crucial to national security and economic stability operate under heightened security and typically do not permit unrestricted public access.
Bangladesh Bank, classified as a high-security KPI facility, is therefore moving to limit direct public interaction within its premises.
