Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed banks to ensure rigorous accountability of bank officers and employees for restoration of transparency in providing services in the financial sector. The Banking Regulations and Policy Department of BB on Monday issued a circular in this regard and sent it to the top executives of banks for immediate action. The circular said the banks must display a citizen charter regarding the services they are providing to the public along with instructions on what to do if the services are not received as promised. According to the instructions, a citizen's charter should be prepared to specify the class-wise list of all the services of a bank, the qualifications and documents required to receive the services, the preparation process of the documents, the minimum required time for providing each service, the service fee and what to do if the citizen does not receive the service. Then this information should be published on the bank's website. Apart from this, it should be shown at the head office and branches. Read: BB relaxes ICRRS to facilitate businesses’ loan The notification further said that a Focal Point Officer and an Alternate Focal Point Officer should be appointed to comply with the citizen charter. The relevant officer's name, phone number, and e-mail address should be published on the website. Apart from this, a business charter corner box should be placed on the website of each bank. All information related to the citizen charter should be uploaded in this box, the BB notification said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the Food Ministry to import additional food grains from countries other than the usual ones in order to ensure food security in the country. The PM provided the directive at a cabinet meeting held at her office today (September 4, 2022). Cabinet Secretary  Khondker Anwarul Islam confirmed the development at a briefing held after the meeting. “We’ve signed agreements with five countries, namely Russia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, to import food grains. At today’s meeting, the PM has told us to keep some other sources ready so that no complexities arise at the last moment,” said the Cabinet Secretary. Read: Bangladesh is building a modern transport system: PM Anwarul added that there is no problem in importing food from Russia.   “According to the Food Ministry, the country’s current stock of food grains is more than 19 lakh metric tons. We’re in a comfortable situation in terms of the speculated food crisis in November,” added the Cabinet Secretary.

The Cabinet on Thursday directed the Energy Division to reiterate to the people the justification behind the huge increase in the prices of fuel triggering a public outcry. The directive came from the Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who joined it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other cabinet members were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat. The cabinet was informed about what the Energy Ministry or Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) told the press in details about the fuel prices, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam replying to a question at a press briefing. “The Energy Ministry was asked to brief (the media) again over it,” he said, adding that the BPC chairman already spoke in details about the matter at the recent press briefing. Read: Cabinet approves draft Finance Company Bill Asked if the government would revise the hike, the Cabinet secretary said, “They (the ministry or BPC) will make all things clear.” In an abrupt midnight move last week, the government hiked fuel prices by up to 51 per cent citing losses incurred by the state-run petroleum agency owing to global high import costs.   The controversial move has triggered public anger and protests across the country.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Monday requested the bikers to desist from ridesharing  to prevent the rise of coronavirus transmission. Ridesharing operators were often seen sharing motorcycle rides during lockdowns. As a result, different people had been using the same helmet again and again increasing the risk of coronavirus infection. READ: No motorcycle ride-sharing from Thursday  In this situation, DMP encouraged a one-person bike ride for emergency movement in the city, said a media release. However, people were requested to use rickshaws following health guidelines for emergency movement.   READ: Dhaka City Election: Ban on motorcycles movement from tonight The government this week announced a partial lockdown from June 26 to July 1, on which date it would turn into a strict lockdown to prevent the rising spread of coronavirus.