The Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing instability at Islamic Bank and urged for a rapid resolution. This concern was voiced by ABB Chairman and City Bank's Managing Director (MD) Masrur Arefin after a meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Mohammad Mustafak Rahman on Wednesday. The discussion, held outside the regular bankers' meeting agenda, highlighted the broader impact of Islamic Bank's situation on the entire banking sector.
Arefin stated that the issue is not isolated to one institution but affects the entire banking sector. He noted that Governor Rahman views the situation not just as a banking issue but also as a political one. Efforts are underway to resolve the matter through mutual understanding among the involved parties.
The ABB Chairman emphasized that the Governor has taken a firm stance on ensuring good governance in the banking sector. He called on bank CEOs to resist political pressures and stressed the importance of providing accurate information to the Credit Information Bureau (CIB).
The meeting also discussed increasing credit flow in the banking sector. Arefin mentioned that the government and Bangladesh Bank have initiated a new fund of 60,000 crore Taka to support small, medium, and large enterprises (SMEs). This fund will be distributed under the central bank's refinancing program.
Arefin further highlighted issues with the accuracy and timeliness of export and import data, which cause problems in national accounting. He emphasized the need to verify prices through international platforms or the internet to prevent excessive payments and national losses.
