Election-Eve MFS Restrictions Cause Widespread Misery, Party Workers Await Payments

General users and election workers are struggling after pre-poll restrictions on mobile financial services (MFS) halted cash-in and cash-out on bKash and Nagad. Activists say they cannot receive travel fares or daily allowances and are borrowing on credit with promises of repayment after 12 February.

Amanullah Aman, coordinating Gazipur-1 election work, told The Daily Campus it is “nearly impossible” to send Tk30,000–40,000 to cover travel and incidental costs because of Bangladesh Bank’s curbs. Local leaders also fear distributing cash openly. “We asked workers to borrow for now; we will repay when MFS resumes,” he said. Jasim, managing Bhola-4 operations, said many are unconvinced by post-election promises.

Agents report rising frustration. A Sutrapur agent said cash-out for bKash, Nagad and Rocket has been off since the ban, catching customers unaware. In Wari, Shamsul Islam said cash-out and add-money are halted; only up to Tk1,000 can be sent per transaction. Similar complaints are coming from outside Dhaka.

Bangladesh Bank’s 8 February circular restricts MFS and peer-to-peer transactions for 96 hours: from 12:00 a.m. 9 February to 11:59 p.m. 12 February, users may send a maximum of Tk1,000 per transaction, up to 10 times daily; P2P IBFT is fully suspended. The aim is to block illicit funds for vote buying or sabotage. Full services are expected to resume after midnight 12 February.

Shamsuddin Dalim, EVP and head of corporate communications at bKash, told a news daily the measures target black money during the election and bKash is complying with the central bank’s instructions.