Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman pledged to promote banking services with the major objective of boosting the ongoing financial services so the poor segment of the society gets the most benefit out of it, according to a BB statement issued on Sunday.
"We want to do more for the people, particularly for the poor, in future through boosting our ongoing financial inclusion programmes across the country," Dr. Rahman said on the eve of his seventh year as the BB governor. He was appointed the 10th governor on May 1, 2009 for a four-year term, which was extended last year for another term.
Recalling his first working day on May 3, 2009, the governor said that he expressed his commitment towards promoting pro-poor economic growth with a view to creating fresh employment opportunities through expansion of the industrial base across the country.
He also started promoting inclusive economic growth through innovative and multi-pronged financial inclusion initiatives, channelling more credit towards socially and environment friendly business activities.
BB under the leadership of Dr Rahman updated its loan classification and provisioning structure in line with the international standard to ensure good governance in the country's banking sector.
"Loan classification and provisioning structure have been upgraded to the international standards. Risk management including strict internal audit and control has been enforced to ensure good governance through heightened supervision," the governor explained.
BB's pragmatic monetary and financial policies also contributed towards attaining content economc growth, maintaining lower inflation, competitive par value of Bangladesh Taka and comfortable foreign exchange reserve position despite episodes of global economic recessions.
Foreign exchange reserves crossed the $ 24 billion-mark for the first time on April 29 following steady growth of both export earnings and workers' remittance inflows.
Besides, refinancing, modernisation of the information and communications technology (ICT) and payments system, environmental risk evaluation guidelines, and other policy supports have been extended to facilitate inclusive and environment friendly financing.
"Risk weighted capital adequacy, liquidity and leverage ratio of banks have been kept as par BASEL-II guidelines, creating avenues for smooth transition to BASEL-III guidelines which will come into effect in 2015," Dr. Rahman added.
Regarding Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT), the governor said modernising Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), information exchange/sharing related cooperation with international FIUs has been strengthened to combat money laundering, terror financing and illicit money transfer activities.