Chaos at Bogor Currency Exchange as Citizens Sent Home After Early Morning Queue

BOGOR — Chaos broke out during a new currency exchange operation in the courtyard of Bogor City Library, West Java, on Thursday (12 March 2026). Citizens who had been queuing since before dawn were ordered to leave.

According to observations by Kompas.com at the scene, citizens waiting for currency exchange became embroiled in verbal altercations with security personnel on duty.

However, a currency exchange vehicle from one of the banks suddenly departed from the Bogor City Library courtyard.

Citizens were asked to leave due to the disturbances caused by the queuing situation that morning. They were instructed to return to the Bogor City Library courtyard around 15:00 to obtain queue numbers.

However, before 15:00, the queue numbers for currency exchange were no longer available.

“They said 15:00, but before 15:00 the numbers were already gone. We came here this morning, they said it was chaotic, we left. We came back before 15:00, but we didn’t know the numbers had already been distributed,” said Ratna at the Bogor City Library courtyard on Thursday.

“We hadn’t received our queue number and were told to come back, and they said it wouldn’t be valid (our morning record), so we were told to return at 15:00,” she explained.

She wanted the queue numbers to be distributed according to the promised schedule.

Similarly, Susi from Tegallega expressed her disappointment at not receiving a queue number.

“We’re not asking for anything; we’re just exchanging currency,” said Susi.

Yet Susi had arrived at the Bogor City Library courtyard at 04:00, just like Ratna.

“We’re frustrated because those who arrived later got numbers. We who came from 04:00 didn’t get any,” she said.

She believes the government needs to intervene by adding vehicles from other banks to make it easier for citizens to exchange currency.