Kamal for ensuring better customer services in banks

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DHAKA, Feb 18, 2019 (BSS) – Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today
underscored the need for ensuring better customer services in banks as per
the rules and regulations to expedite the growth of country’s economy.

“The existing number of banks is not a matter of concern. If the banks
run smoothly, provide their services as per the rules and regulations and
attain their objectives, then I am not worried about the number of banks,” he
told journalists before the day’s Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase
(CCGP) meeting at the secretariat in the city.

Bangladesh Bank’s Board of Directors on Sunday approved proposals to
issue Letter of Intent (LoI) in favour of three new banks — Bengal
Commercial Bank, The Citizen Bank and People’s Bank. After fulfilling all
requirements as per the LoI, the three new banks will get final license. If
the new banks get license, the number of scheduled banks will be 62.

Kamal said the central bank and the authorities concerned have approved
the new banks on the basis of complete analysis. “However, in order to ensure
proper management of the banks, more necessary conditions will be imposed
from now on,” he added.

Responding to a question, the finance minister said the decision of
increasing paid-up capital for the banks to Taka 500 crore from the existing
Taka 400 crore is not much as the paid-up capital of a lone branch of many
foreign banks is higher than the country’s 20 banks.

He also said the government will arrange special audit in each bank for
ensuring transparency and integrity in the financial sector and thus bringing
down the huge amount of Non Performing Loan (NPL) to tolerable level.