BB officers‘ Welfare Council protests ‘hasty’ move

Business Report :

The Bangladesh Bank Officers Welfare Council, an organization of Bangladesh Bank officers and employees, has protested the initiative to issue digital bank licences in a hurry during the process of forming a newly elected government. The organization has demanded to postpone the board meeting called for this purpose.
The leaders of the council made this demand at a press conference organized at the central bank’s office on Monday.

At the press conference, the organization’s general secretary Golam Mostafa Shraban said that after the 13th National Parliament elections were held on February 12, the swearing-in of the newly elected representatives and the process of forming a new government are ongoing.

In such a context, an emergency board meeting has been called by the governor on February 16 to issue digital bank licences, which may raise questions about the transparency and impartiality of the central bank’s activities.
He alleged that the governor had previously served as chairman of a bank belonging to the same group on whose behalf the digital bank licence is being sought. As a result, central bank officials believe that there is a conflict of interest.

He also commented that such a decision could create controversy in the future.
Shraban further said that the country’s banking sector is currently facing various challenges.

Several troubled banks are struggling to ensure the safety of deposits. In such a situation, the need to issue a new digital bank licence in the interest of a particular group should be reviewed in depth.

The organization has called for the newly elected government to postpone the relevant board meeting without taking any hasty decisions before assuming office.

At the same time, it has also demanded the cancellation of the appointments of advisers, consultants and related officials who were appointed on a contractual basis without following a proper evaluation and transparent process.

The council leaders said that in the interest of maintaining confidence and stability in the country’s banking sector, all decisions of the central bank must be made through a neutral, transparent and accountable process.