How to Withdraw Cash During Long Eid Vacation

This Eid, the country will observe a continuous 7-day holiday, meaning banks and financial institutions will remain closed during this period. Does that mean all financial transactions will stop? Absolutely not. Alternative banking and transaction services will remain fully operational. During long holidays, cash demand usually rises, and ATMs and mobile financial services (MFS) cash-out become the main sources of cash.

You can still withdraw cash from ATM booths using cards, make payments at Point of Sale (POS) terminals, and conduct all kinds of internet-based transactions. Mobile financial services like bKash, Rocket, and Nagad will remain active. Experts in the sector believe there will be no major problem in continuing financial transactions even during the bank holiday — though long closures sometimes lead to cash shortages at ATMs.

What the Instructions Say

Bangladesh Bank has already directed all banks to ensure sufficient cash in ATM booths during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. Instructions have been sent to managing directors of all banks. During Eid, cash withdrawal demand surges at ATM booths, often resulting in long queues.

Not just ATMs — banks have been instructed to ensure uninterrupted services through POS, QR codes, internet banking, online payment gateways, and mobile financial services.

Alternative Options

Most private banks now make ATM cards mandatory when opening accounts, so almost all new customers have cards. When branches are open, you can withdraw or deposit cash directly at the branch. Many banks are now replacing traditional ATMs with Cash Recycle Machines (CRMs), which allow both withdrawal and deposit. You can also use cards at POS terminals for shopping and payments.

Currently, banks across the country have:

• 12,713 ATM booths
• 8,483 CRMs
• 142,773 POS terminals

Banks have issued nearly 50 million cards (some customers hold multiple cards). A large portion of the banking population is now under digital services, so cards will meet cash needs during the Eid closure.

Additionally, internet banking services (including mobile apps) allow instant transfers between customers of different banks. So, sending money will not be disrupted during the holiday. There are currently 12.5 million internet banking users. In January alone, internet banking transactions exceeded Tk 100,000 crore. Popular platforms include Islami Bank’s Selfin, Dutch-Bangla Bank’s Nexus Pay, BRAC Bank’s Aastha, City Bank’s Citytouch, Dhaka Bank’s Go Plus, Eastern Bank’s Sky Banking, and MTB’s MTB Neo.

Mobile financial services (MFS) like bKash, Nagad, and Rocket remain highly popular and will stay fully operational. You can deposit money from banks into these services, and agent points will remain open during Eid, allowing cash deposits and withdrawals.