Customers have been unable to withdraw money from any of the ATM booths in Kushtia since 6 August.

Authorities of the banks attributed the inconvenience to the security inadequacy.

Bank officials said there is no shortage of money in the banks, but they are worried about security. So, they are not loading money in the automated teller machines (ATMs) as part of a central directive, they said.

Kushtia has around 45 active ATM booths of public and private banks.

Since 6 August, security has become a concern across the country in the absence of police who feared for their own safety following deadly attacks on them. 

At the same time, banks were operating on a limited scale in the district.

In the last few days, the presence of customers was very thin as no one went to the bank except for urgent needs.

The main gates of most of the bank branches in Kushtia town were closed, and people were asked to move through the pocket gate.

Nazrul Islam, branch manager of Kushtia Mutual Trust Bank, said there is no shortage of cash in the bank. “But as the security institutions are closed, money cannot be kept in booths.”

Assistant General Manager of Kushtia Sonali Bank Principal Branch Shahidul Islam said they are operating manual transactions. Banks are struggling to send money to distance branches and booths in the district, he said.

Officials 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 offices if security concerns arise.

Kushtia Superintendent of Police Muhammad Alamgir Hossain said the situation would return to normal with the resumption of activities by the law enforcers.