Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman speaks at a seminar on ‘Green banking, mobile banking and corporate responsibility’ at BB head office in Dhaka Tuesday.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman warned that if the banks fail to introduce mobile banking service within the set time then their licences for the service will be cancelled.

Calling upon the mobile operators of the country to provide necessary help to the banks in this regard, he said, “You have to abide by the laws to do business in the country.”

The BB governor was speaking at a seminar as the chief guest organised on ‘green banking, mobile banking and corporate responsibility’ Tuesday in the capital.

The BB governor said, “Until now, some 23 banks have been given licences to introduce mobile banking. Of them, 14 banks have already started the service. If the other approved banks fail to start the service within the set time, then their approvals will be cancelled and given to other banks. No new approval will be issued in next three years, if needed.”

Chief executives of different scheduled banks, BB deputy governors SK Sur Chowdhury and Begum Naznin Sultana, BB executive directors and senior officials attended the seminar.

In the seminar, chief executives of scheduled banks alleged that the telecom companies are not helping the banks to introduce mobile banking. All the leading mobile operators are acting similarly. They are not coming forward.

Responding to their allegations the BB governor angrily said, “If you want to do business in the country you have to abide by the rules. They will have to come forward.”

Atiur said, “Our mobile banking has to expand more to ensure inclusive growth. There are 40 million people in the country who need to be brought under mobile banking. Economy of the country will advance immensely if new 40 million people are brought under banking service.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/3rd-Oct-12