Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman addresses a Green Bankers’ Conference in Dhaka on Tuesday. 

Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman on Tuesday asked scheduled banks and non-bank financial institutions not to finance any project which will put an adverse impact on environment.
The banks and the NBFIs should strengthen their green financing to ensure the country’s sustainable development, he said at a Green Bankers’ Conference organised by the central bank at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in the capital.
‘The country achieved on an average six per cent GDP growth in the recent years which has already extended the economic activities. It is high time to ensure green financing along with the economic activities in the greater interest of inclusive growth’, he said.
The financial sector accelerates global climate change and environmental degradation through their ‘financed emissions’ i.e. the greenhouse gas emissions induced by their loan facility, he said.
Nowadays the green bankers know that the financial sector has a pivotal role to play in de-carbonizing the economy and reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases at the required pace and scale.
Green technology may be an effective way to improve resource efficiency and coordinating the different processes responsible for green growth, the BB governor said.
To foster the development of green technology, appropriate financing mechanism should be adopted by the banks and financial intermediaries, he said.
Widespread implementation of green initiatives and energy saving technologies can facilitate Bangladesh to cleanse its environment, but access to finance is vital for the successful implementation of green initiatives, the BB governor said.
This is high time for the banks and financial institutions to move forward with research and development which are indispensable for exploring appropriate technologies and techniques and new green products, Atiur said.
BB deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury said that the BB had already formulated a number of regulations and policies to promote the green financing in the business sector.
He said, ‘It is important to ensure the sustainable economic development for inclusive growth. So, the banks and the NBFIs will have to increase their green financing which will ensure the green economy.’
Dhaka University professor Saiful Huque said that the banks and the NBFIs should finance to invent environment-friendly technology.
‘Our goal is to save the people and the country. The goal will be ensured if we can protect our environment’, he said.
IFC Bangladesh country manager Kyle Kelhofer and BB executive director Ataur Rahman, among others, addressed at the first session of the conference.

State-run Sonali Bank yesterday filed another case against Hall-Mark Group on charges of taking more than Tk 450.84 crore in loans on fake documents.
Abdus Salam, executive officer of the bank's Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch, filed the case with the Money Loan Court-1 in Dhaka.
Hall-Mark Chairperson Jasmine Islam, Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud and Hall-Mark Fashions Limited, a concern of the group, were made accused in the case.
After hearing, Judge Md Robiuzzaman directed the defendants to explain why steps would not be taken against them by June 29.
In March and April, the bank filed 13 other cases against Jasmine, Tanvir and 11 of their companies with the same court for taking Tk 387.43 crore in loan on forged documents.
Sonali Bank started filing the cases after it failed to get buyers for the mortgaged assets of Hall-Mark. The bank auctioned some assets, including lands, last month, but got no buyer.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed 11 cases against 27 persons of Hall-Mark and its lender Sonali Bank in October 2012 and pressed charges against 25 of them in October last year on money laundering allegation.
Seven accused, including Tanvir, are now in jail while Jasmine is on bail and 17 others are absconding.
Hall-Mark alone took away Tk 2,686 crore from the branch on forged documents between 2010 and 2012. The scam shook the country when it came to light in May 2012.

Azam J Chowdhury has been elected chairman of Prime Bank for two years from June 1, the bank said in a statement yesterday.
Chowdhury, an industrialist and entrepreneur, is the chairman of East Coast Group and Consolidated Tea and Lands Company Bangladesh (formerly, James Finlay).
He is also the managing director of MJL Bangladesh, distributor of Exxon Mobil Corporation, and serves as director of Central Depo-sitory Bangladesh.
Chowdhury has also been serving as the vice president of Bangladesh Energy Companies Asso-ciation and was recently elected as president of Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owner's Association.

 Pubali Bank Limited organised a five-day-long training programme titled “Refreshers Course” for the deputy managers of the bank at the bank’s training institute recently.

M.A. Halim Chowdhury, Additional Managing Director of the bank attended the programme as chief guest, said a press release.

He distributed certificates among the participants.

Niranjan Chandra Gope, Head of Training of Pubali Bank Training Institute presided over the ceremony.

SAM Salimullah, Senior Executive Vice President of Union Bank Limited, inaugurates a new branch of the bank at Badarkhali, Cakaria in Cox’s Bazar on Monday. 

Union Bank Limited opened a branch at Badarkhali, Cakaria, in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.

SAM Salimullah, Senior Executive Vice President of Union Bank Limited, inaugurated the branch, said a press release.