Bank
Padma Bank to loan farmers on easy terms for food security
The Padma Bank Limited will provide loans at 4 percent interest rate to farmers to increase production in the agricultural sector in the country.
This loan will be given under a fund titled "5000 crore refinancing scheme for agriculture sector to ensure food security of the country" formed by Bangladesh Bank (BB), said a press release on Wednesday.
It said an agreement was signed between the Bangladesh Bank and the Padma Bank to disburse the loans on easy terms.
Read more: Money transfer from Padma Bank to bKash made easy
In November last year, the central bank formed a refinance scheme of Tk5,000 crore for farmers as part of the government’s efforts to stave off food scarcity amid a looming global crisis in 2023 stemmed from the Russia-Ukraine war.
Abul Kalam Azad, director to Agriculture Credit Division of the central bank and Faisal Ahsan Chowdhury, managing director (Current Charge) of Padma Bank, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations in the presence of BB Governor Abdur Rauf Talukdar at Jahangir Alam Conference Hall of the BB’s head office.
AKM Sajedur Rahman Khan, deputy governor of the central bank, its Executive Director (Agricultural Credit Department) Md Anwarul Islam and senior officials from both organisations were present during the signing ceremony.
Read more: BB releases Tk100 commemorative notes to mark Padma Bridge opening
Farmers will be able to take loans for production of paddy, fisheries, vegetables, fruits, flowers, poultry and dairy items under the livestock sector.
NRBC Bank opens Takerhat branch in Madaripur
NRBC Bank inaugurated its Takerhat branch in Madaripur Wednesday.
Former shipping minister Shajahan Khan MP inaugurated the 96th branch of the bank as chief guest, according to a media statement.
AKM Mustafizur Rahman, director and chairman of the Risk Management Committee of the bank, presided over the opening ceremony, it added.
Read more: NRBC gets nod to raise Tk500 crore through bonds
NRBC is an endeavour of a group of non-resident Bangladeshis. The focus of the bank is to "spread the network of financial inclusion to the marginal unbanked population to expedite economic progress."
Citizens Bank opens Narayanganj branch
Citizens Bank PLC, a "fifth-generation bank in the private sector," has opened its Narayanganj branch.
Towfika Aftab, chair of Citizens Bank, inaugurated the branch at Bangabandhu Road recently, according to a media statement.
Masuduzzaman, director and chairman of the executive committee, Chowdhury Mohammed Hanif Shoeb, director and chairman of the risk management committee; members of the board of directors Mukhlesur Rahman, SK Md Iftekharul Islam, and managing director and chief executive officer of the commercial bank Mohammad Masoom were also present, it added.
Citizens Bank emerged as the 61st scheduled bank of Bangladesh.
The scheduled banks in Bangladesh operate under the full control and supervision of the Bangladesh Bank, which is empowered to do so through the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972 and the Bank Company Act 1991.
No liquidity crisis in banks, BAB says
Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), an organization of entrepreneurs and directors of private banks, in a statement has said that there is no liquidity crisis in the banks at present.
In a statement issued on Monday, BAB said that there is a negative campaign going on over liquidity crunch in the banking sector. But this is not true; liquidity in the banks is stable, it said.
Chairman of BAB and Exim Bank, Nazrul Islam Majumder, signed the notification.
read more: No liquidity crisis in banks: ABB
There is a liquidity of Tk 1.70 lakh crore remaining in the banking sector at present, which is more than the requirement, he said. BAB issued the statement after discussing the current situation of the banking sector in a meeting.
No dollar crisis in banks from next month: Salman F Rahman
Prime Minister's Private Industries and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman on Saturday said the existing dollar crisis in banks will be gone by next month.
read more: Bangladesh broadens its sources for energy supply; no shortage of dollars: FM
“Necessary goods can be imported ahead of Ramadan and there will be no crisis during the month of Ramadan,” Rahman said while replying to journalists after placing a wreath and paying tribute at Mujibnagar mausoleum in Meherpur.
He said prices of essentials in the global market have gone up and it has created a pressure on Bangladesh’s economy.
read more: Remittance: Bangladesh Bank tells banks to provide Tk 107 per dollar
“Yet we are selling essential commodities to 1 crore families through TCB. As at least 4 to 5 crore people are getting benefited from it, no major problem will remain,” he said.
Bangladesh Bank re-fixes transactions hours from 10 am-3:30 pm
Bangladesh Bank on Thursday (November 03, 2022) announced new transaction hours and office timing for bankers with effect from November 15.
According to the new circular of the department of Off-site Supervision of the central bank, banking transaction hours have been set from 10 am to 3.30 pm while the banks’ office hours from 10 am to 5 pm from Sunday to Thursday.
Read more:Office timing rescheduled for 8:00 am to 3:00 pm to save electricity
Bankers' existing office timing is from 10 am to 4 pm.
On August 22, the government of Bangladesh rearranged the office timing from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm for all the government and autonomous offices and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm for all banks in a bid to save electricity amid short supply. The decision was effective from August 24.
Read More: Govt mulls rescheduling office timing amid power shortage, says energy advisor
Bank official killed in city road crash
A bank official was killed as a lorry ran over him in the capital's Jatrabari area on Tuesday night.
The deceased was identified as Aftab-e -Alam,45, of Shimulhati village of Kishoreganj district. He was a principal officer of Pubali Bank's Islampur branch.
The lorry hit Alam on his way home in Shanirakhra area of Jatrabari around 9:30 pm, leaving him dead on the spot, said Mostafizur Rahman, sub-inspector of Jatrabari police station.
Read more: Couple among three killed in Cumilla road accident
Police recovered the body and took it to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, added the SI.
Police arrested the driver and seized the lorry, he said.
Security guard’s body found inside bank branch in Rangpur
The body of a security guard was found inside the branch of the bank he was assigned to in Rangpur on Sunday morning.
Shamim Mia, 25, was the son of Amzad Hossain of Ranipukur village under Mithapukur upazila in the district, and worked at the Central Road branch of Agrani Bank in Rangpur city.
Ariful Islam, the manager of the branch, said Shamim had been working as a security guard at the branch for the past 17 months. He got married just ten days back, the manager added.
Staff found Shamim’s lifeless body lying inside the branch as they came to work on Sunday morning.
Read: Two young men’s bodies recovered from Buriganga
Hossain Ali, inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station, said they rushed to the spot and recovered the body on being informed.
The body was sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, he added.
The victim’s brother Shariful said Shamim used to return home in the evening from work, where he started in the morning.
He, however, didn’t return home on Saturday evening, Shariful added.
IBBL recognised as best sustainable bank
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has been recognised as best sustainable bank by Bangladesh Bank.
Fazle Kabir, Governor, Bangladesh Bank handed over the crest of recognition to Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director and CEO of Islami Bank at Bangladesh Bank head office on Thursday, said a media release.
A.K.M Sajedur Rahman Khan & Abu Farah Md. Nasser, Deputy Governors, Nurun Nahar, Executive Director and Khondkar Morshed Millat, Director of Bangladesh Bank were also present on the occasion.
Bangladesh Bank has published such rating based on four indicators such as Sustainable Finance, Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), Green Refinance and Core Banking Sustainability.
A total of 10 private banks in Bangladesh were recognised in the Sustainability Rating-2021.
Cellfin launches Mastercard dual currency prepaid card
Cellfin, omni-channel banking app of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL), has launched a Mastercard dual currency prepaid card.
The users will be able to buy from any local or foreign e-commerce sites in both foreign currency and taka.
Read Mastercard, Brac unveil Mastercard Millennial Titanium Credit Card
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and chief executive officer of IBBL, inaugurated the card service on June 22 at a Dhaka hotel.
The card enables fund transfer to Mastercard cards or accounts of any bank connected to the NPSB/BEFTN/RTGS network.
Read bKash customers can now add money from 29 banks, Visa, Mastercard
Having an IBBL account is not necessary for this card. One may avail of the card by registering with Cellfin, said a media statement Saturday.