National Bank Resumes Normal Banking, Welcomes Customers with Flowers and Sweets

National Bank has resumed normal banking operations, including the repayment of customer deposits, after a prolonged period of difficulties for account holders. On Thursday, October 15, the first day of renewed operations, customers arriving to withdraw money at the bank’s Dilkusha branch in Dhaka were welcomed with flowers, sweets and coffee.

The branch was decorated with balloons, and employees stood at the entrance to greet customers. Many people withdrawing money were given newly issued banknotes.

Branch officials said customers who applied for withdrawals on October 11 were receiving funds according to their requests. Other customers were also being paid on humanitarian and special grounds. However, those seeking to withdraw large sums were sometimes asked to return after a few days.

Mohammad Hannan Dewan, a customer of the bank’s Gazaria branch in Munshiganj, withdrew Tk 40,000 to cover his ailing father’s medical expenses. He said he had previously withdrawn Tk 20,000 per week from the Dilkusha branch because his father, who is hospitalised, requires regular treatment. He added that an earlier attempt to withdraw a larger amount at once had been unsuccessful.

Dilkusha branch manager Moinul Islam said customers who had submitted withdrawal requests on October 11 were receiving money according to their stated needs, while other customers were also being served. According to him, 33 customers at the branch had applied to withdraw deposits totalling more than Tk 10 million on the first day.

Branch officials said approximately 40 customers received a combined total of around Tk 3.2 million during the first hour after transactions began at 10am. The branch was also accepting deposits, with several customers depositing money on Thursday.

Shekhar Ghosh, a long-standing customer who visited the branch with his wife to withdraw money from a savings certificate, said he had also submitted a request on October 11. He expressed relief at receiving the profit payment he needed, saying he had faced difficulties withdrawing savings certificate funds over the past two years.

Ghosh said he had not withdrawn all the money held in his account and had taken only what he currently needed. He urged the government and Bangladesh Bank to ensure that customers do not face difficulties accessing their own deposits in the future.

National Bank has described the resumption of normal operations as a new beginning. On October 8, the bank announced that from October 15, customers would be able to withdraw money as needed from its branches and ATM booths across the country. It also said counter services, mobile app services, internet banking and other digital and online facilities would resume full operations.