Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed banks to ensure uninterrupted ATM, POS, internet banking, online e-payment gateway and MFS services during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation. The payment system department of BB on Thursday issued a circular in this regard and sent it to the top executives of all the banks, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers and payment system operators. The circular asked banks to arrange uninterrupted service of Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS), internet banking, online e-payment gateway and Mobile Financial Service (MFS) along with adequate manpower to solve instantly if trouble arises during the vacation. Also read: BB tightens belt on forex reserve, bans import credit on luxury items It  also asked banks to keep enough money at the ATM booths , ensure security measures at the ATM outlets, set up note checking machine at the POS to avert the fake notes in the cattle markets across the country and other payment points to serve the traders and other customers.  Banks have to ensure Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for card based payment, card not present payment, said the circular. MFS providers asked to ensure enough money at their agent point so that people can get service (Cash in and cash out) during the period. Also read: BB asks banks to keep branches open in Dhaka cattle market areas on July 8,9 Besides, the central bank has asked banks and other payment gateway operators to take additional cautionary measures to stop any kind of forgery and scam during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation.

Upay will offer its customers lowest cash charge for withdrawing money from ATM booths. The charge will be Tk 8 for every Tk 1000 withdrawn, inclusive of tax and VAT. Upay is the subsidiary of United Commercial Bank (UCB), providing mobile financial services. Read Regulator shouldn't allow monopoly in MFS: Mustafa Jabbar The upay customers will be able to withdraw money at more than 500 ATMs of UCB across the country by using their upay app that can be downloaded from the Google Playstore or the upay website. Sydul Haque Khandaker, Managing Director of upay said, “Upay has already established its footprint in the MFS sector within a short time by offering the lowest fee for most of the MFS services including ATM cash withdrawal.” Upay products include mobile transaction, utility bill payment, merchant payment, inward remittance, airtime recharge, and disbursement of salary and various government social safety net allowances. Read BB issues guidelines for trust fund management in payment, settlement services Besides, upay offers some unique services exclusively available for upay customers, including payment of traffic prosecution fines, Indian visa fee payment, and gas (prepaid) bill payment- all types of bill payments free of charge. Built on state-of-the-art blockchain technology, the upay platform also ensures a greater sense of security and confidence to customers. The MFS subsidiary of UCB launched its operation on March 17, 2021, covering all the districts and upazilas in Bangladesh. Read Eden College students can pay fees through bKash