Jumbangla Desk: Banks in crisis have been given liquidity assistance of Tk 5,585 crore in the last one and a half months. Nine banks have given this liquidity support to a total of 7 banks against Bangladesh Bank's guarantee.

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Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Spokesperson Husne Ara Shikha confirmed this information in a press conference on Wednesday (November 6).

The spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank said that we are providing liquidity support to banks in crisis. I can increase the amount of this support. However, if all customers go together, it is not possible for any bank to give money. Central banks have good plans. All depositors are requested not to withdraw more money than necessary. We want to restore trust. At the same time, he asked the customers not to panic about the bank money.

He said Bangladesh Bank will investigate if the money is smuggled through formal channels. But it is difficult to investigate money laundering through hundi. Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is working on this matter. However, BFIU does not share any information with Bangladesh Bank regarding these matters.

Regarding the progress of work on loan irregularities, he said that financial intelligence agency BFIU has already seized many bank accounts. They have not given any information to the central bank in this regard.

Besides, in response to the question whether the task force formed is doing anything effective, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank said that a task force is working on banking reforms. A second task force is working to enhance the efficiency of Bangladesh Bank officials. The third is working to recover the money laundered. Recruitment of lawyers and consultants from different countries is going on here.

He said that Bangladesh Bank will not appoint a receiver to any business organization on its own initiative. If there is an order of the court in this regard, the work will be done accordingly.

In response to the question that many people of the Central Bank were involved in the irregularities of various banks, he said that no such complaint has been filed yet. If so, action will be taken as per law in staff regulation. Many complaints come to the central bank anonymously. Our HR looks into it. We cannot take action unless there is a specific complaint with the Governor. Those who were observers in various banks have submitted their reports. As an official of Bangladesh Bank, I cannot say anything about it.

Regarding inflation control of policy interest rate, Bangladesh Bank spokesperson said, inflation was coming down after the first policy rate increase. If this continues for the next 6 months, inflation will come down to single digits. It has already worked in many countries. It will work in our country too.

The Central Bank has informed about various irregularities of NRBC Bank, the complaints against them are being investigated in Bangladesh Bank.