Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman yesterday said the Bangladesh Bank has taken steps to turn all its activities IT based, while it CID activities would go online within next month.

All banks would also start mobile banking systems in a broader way within next two to three months, he expected.

Dr Atiur Rahman was addressing as the chief guest a roundtable titled “Financial Inclusion and Impact of ICT” organised jointly by NeoSTAR Alliance and Bank Al-falah Ltd at the National Press Club VIP lounge.

Parliamentary standing committee chairman on Post and Telecommunication Ministry Hasanul Huq Inu addressed as special guest.

Dr Atiur Rahman said: “It is the time to reach at the doorsteps of poor rural people, and it is the IT solution only that can do it. I always support the partnership between mobile phone companies and banks as they can play a vital role in this acts.”

He called upon the banks to increase their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and provide loan to the poor farmers including women farmers.

Praising the effectiveness of the farmers account, that was opened just for Tk 10, he called upon the banks to provide one per cent more interest from the normal interest rate to encourage the farmers for savings. He also informed that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already exempted those accounts from tax coverage.

“We need to focus on marginal people who have no access to banking service. But we have nationwide mobile network coverage that we can utilise to spread the banking service at the doorsteps of the rural people,” he added.

Hasanul Haq Inu stressed on the need for removing social injustice in order to improve broader IT services in the country. According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) data, ICT implementation in various financial sectors might reduce 50 per cent operating cost, he mentioned.

“Technology has no alternative to achieve financial inclusion. But proper knowledge and capacity building is essential to reach the ultimate destination,” Inu said adding they would recommend the government to change necessary law for expansion of ICT activities in the country.

He sought recommendations from the related authority including banks and IT companies on what kinds of changes are needed with the law for the development of ICT uses.

Speakers of a roundtable yesterday said the country was moving forward towards development.

“It’s the time to implement mobile and IT solution system for better financial inclusion. Mobile banking is one the key component in this respect,” they said.

The goal of the event was to bring financial institution, technology companies and software solution developers at the same platform to critically analyse the profound impact of financial inclusion on emerging economy.

President of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators in Bangladesh (AMTOB) president Zakiul Islam presented the key note paper at the programme moderated by Habibullah N Karim, MD and CEO of Technohaven.

Zakiul Islam said the country in the past failed to introduce mobile service system in the financial sector for tough law but the present government has taken initiatives.

He said at present only 7 to 10 per cent of the people are getting banking services in the country, while 35 to 40 per cent people have access to mobile phone. So, banks can avail such a grate opportunity, he added.

Top officials from banks, mobile network operators, technology companies, and universities also took part at the discussion.

Source: Daily Sun