Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited opened ATM booth at Dhaka International Trade Fair in Dhaka.

Customers of the banks rushed to the ATM booth installed at IBBL pavilion for withdrawing and depositing funds at the DITF premises.

The sales of goods have increased following the rush of people during the last few days of the fair.

A large number of local people and foreigners stood in long queue for withdrawing money frequently for fulfilling their needs.

Several sellers of the fair are depositing money at the end of their daily business.

Mentionable that the clients of Islami Bank can withdraw money from more than 2000 ATM booths including 500 own network of the country.

BSS, RAJSHAHI: All the 374 branches of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) are to be computerised in phases by June 2014, in a bid to expedite its client services and other operational activities. 

On successful completion of the venture, RAKUB will soon be linked with online banking activities to keep pace with increasing demands.

The bank management stated this while addressing the inaugural session of a four-day training course on ‘Infinity Banking Solution and Troubleshooting’ at the bank’s computer training laboratory yesterday. 

20 branch-level officials in charge of computer sectors in different branches are taking part in the course. 

Managing director Mofazzal Hossain addressed the session as chief guest while deputy managing director Abu

Hanif Khan and general manager (administration) Nishith Kumar Shaha spoke as special guests with deputy managing director (ICT Division) Golam Mostofa in the chair.

The speakers expect that electronic banking will facilitate improvement of services to the clients in general.  Already,

branch managers and zonal managers were given necessary instructions for introducing computerisation

systems as early as possible. RAKUB, headquartered in Rajshahi, has been operating its banking activities as

the largest development partner in all 16 northwest districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions targeting its agricultural sector and all its sub-sectors. 

Mofazzal Hossain stressed on the importance of online banking and asked all officials concerned to take necessary measures in this regard. 

“We have no way but to enter into the online banking era to exist in the modern and competitive banking system,” he said, adding that clients should also be familiarised with the modern system. 

He said the effort will supplement the government endeavor to build a digital Bangladesh in order to reach public services towards people’s doorsteps by 2021.

Bangladesh Bank has prepared data about letters of credit of five banks to help an anti-draft body investigation into suspected money laundering cases in the name of imports.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched the enquiry in October last year and sought the data of a 10-month period from July 2012.

The anti-draft body began the probe as there was an “abnormal increase” of capital machinery imports when the country was experiencing dull investment situation due to a long-lasting political turmoil.

Bangladesh Bank sent a letter to the ACC on Tuesday citing that the data is ready and can be collected in hard version.

The banks include state-owned Agrani, Janata and Rupali, private commercial Islami Bank and foreign HSBC.

The central bank prepared data of five banks in the July-April period last fiscal year.

Bangladesh Bank sources said the LC opening for capital machinery imports increased 31.6% in 10 months from one year ago although the period was identified as politically instable and sluggish for investment sector.

In November last year, the committee asked the central bank for the data.

According to the data, LCs to import capital machinery increased to $2.36bn during the period compared to $1.72bn one year earlier.

In the period, textile machinery imports showed a substantial increase by 14% to $373m, garment machinery 34% to $366.65m and power sector machinery 301% to $696m.

Although the ACC asked for 10 months data, Bangladesh Bank found the December data of 2013 of two banks also fishy when the capital machinery imports witnessed 300% rise.

The banks are Janata Bank and Dhaka Bank.

Of the December data, the central bank found $230m LCs of Janata Bank and $18m of Dhaka Bank suspicious, which were opened for capital machinery imports for energy sector.

Bangladesh Bank asked the two banks to provide information to investigate into if there is any case of money laundering in the name of imports.

The central bank executives said the rise of capital machinery imports was not normal as the entrepreneurs had remained shy of making any fresh investment during political instability centering January 5 elections.

According to them, ill attempts were being made through over-invoicing.

They said although the imported machineries were second hand and cheap, they were shown new and expensive in the invoices.

News:Dhaka Tribune/30-Jan-2014

 Bank Asia Limited under its CSR programme handed over blankets to Bangladesh Bank to distribute among the cold-hit poor people in different parts of the country.

Md Arfan Ali, Deputy Managing Director of Bank Asia handed over the blankets to AFM Asaduzzaman, General Manager of Bangladesh Bank recently, said a press release.

 The Southeast Bank’s Brahmanbaria Branch has been shifted to Shikdar Plaza at Doctor Foridul Huda Road, Brahmanbaria Municipality, Brahmanbaria recently.

Md. Bashir Zillur Rahman, Assistant Vice President and Head of Brahmanbaria Branch inaugurated the newly-located branch, said a press release.