Reforms will continue, political interference won’t: BB governor
The new governor of Bangladesh Bank, Md Mostaqur Rahman, today told bankers that the ongoing reform initiatives introduced by the previous governor will continue and that any political interference will not be tolerated.
The remarks of the new governor came during a meeting between Bangladesh Bank and the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The governor presided over the meeting and said he would not yield to any political pressure, BB officials who attended the meeting told The Daily Star.
CEOs of banks have been encouraged to approach him directly if they face political interference in lending or governance matters, they added.
The central bank officials, seeking anonymity, also said the new governor informed participants that the ongoing banking sector reforms, including the reconstitution of boards of stressed banks, will continue without interruption.
Arief Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, told this correspondent that the banks have been asked to support the government’s commitment to creating new employment opportunities.
Service standards will be set, he said, adding that a rental fee structure for office space will be determined for opening new bank branches so that banks do not have to approach the central bank every time for approval.
After the meeting, Mashrur Arefin, chairman of ABB and CEO of City Bank, said the first meeting between the ABB Governing Body, comprising 19 bank CEOs, and the new governor went very well.
“The governor was very cordial and chaired the meeting with humility, warmth, and grace,” Mashrur noted. “He listened patiently to the views of all 19 of us one by one and outlined several of his core priorities.”
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