Money is not being withdrawn from ATM booths in Kushtia for the last few days due to security inadequacy.
Bank officials said there is no shortage of money. But they are worried about security. So, they are not loading money in the booth machine. It is a central directive.
Since August 6, security concerns have arisen in the country. Police went on strike fearing for their own safety following the news of a deadly attack on the police the previous night.
After Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and left the country last Monday night, there was violence and fire. With no security forces other than a limited presence of army personnel, the streets and important installations became unsafe.
Kushtia Mutual Trust Bank branch manager Nazrul Islam said, ‘There is no shortage of cash in the bank. But since security institutions are closed, money cannot be kept in booths.
Kushtia Sonali Bank Principal Branch AGM Shahidul Islam said that banks are struggling to send money to distant branches and booths.
He further said, ‘Our facility is that almost 95 percent of ATM booths are connected to the bank branches. If necessary, I can send money from the branch to the booth. I can’t send money to the booths that are not connected to the branch.’
At the same time, although banks are operating in a limited manner across the country, branches and booths are closed in vulnerable areas
. In the last few days, the presence of customers was very low as no one went to the bank except for urgent needs.
The main gates of most bank branches in Kushtia city are closed. People had to move through the pocket gate. Most of the booths are closed. Due to the closure of the main doors of several banks, financial transactions are being disrupted.
A Kushtia newspaper editor goes to a private bank booth to withdraw money and finds out that the booth does not have a net line. He visited the private booths of two other banks nearby and saw the same picture.
Talking to the branch managers of some banks, it is known that this happened because of lack of security.
They also said, ‘As a precautionary measure, branch managers have been asked to assess their own security.
As a result, branch managers can shut down their operations without permission from head office if security concerns arise.
According to them, ‘it is possible to ensure the sending of money to booths if security is provided by the army, BGB or RAB.’
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Muhammad Alamgir Hossain said that police forces will perform their duties as usual in Kushtia like the rest of the country from today.
He thinks that the situation will return to normal.