Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said, "Reform in the banking sector is a time-consuming matter, we cannot do this. The elected government will do it when it comes to power,”
He said this in response to questions from journalists after a view-exchange meeting with government officials at Nabinagar Upazila headquarters in Brahmanbaria on Saturday morning.
Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said, “During the previous government’s tenure, many people in the country laundered a lot of money abroad. They destroyed the banks. Such an incident has never happened in any civilized country in the world.”
He said, “A few days ago, Bangladesh Bank provided 52,000 crore taka to 12 financially weak banks. Earlier, 22,000 crore taka was given. We are trying to restore order in the banking sector. However, this is not a permanent solution.”
The Finance Advisor also said, ‘If the interest rate on savings certificates is increased, everyone will buy savings certificates, then no one will keep money in the bank. There is a liquidity issue in banks. We have to balance it. And if everyone buys savings certificates, where will the banks get the money from?”
In response to a question about whether the banking sector can be made crisis-free before the national elections in February, he said, “Bangladesh Bank is trying to rehabilitate weak banks. In this case, Islami Bank is a big example. But now confidence has returned to this big bank of the private sector. In the case of other banks, there is a law— the Bank Resolution Act. The first condition of this law is that the government is committed to returning the money of those who have deposited money in the bank. No one's money will be lost, it may take time. Some banks may not have business, it may take time. These are being calculated and we are taking technical assistance on how to evaluate them.”
Brahmanbaria deputy commissioner Mohammad Didarul Alam, additional superintendent of police (Nabinagar Circle) of the district Pias Basak, Nabinagar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Rajib Chowdhury, OC Shahinur Islam and other administration officials were present along with the advisor at the moment.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque