CAB demands end to limited scale banking

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Chittagong division and Metropolitan committee has proposed to end banking at a limited scale, put in place to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The association’s central committee Vice President SM Nazer Hossain, General Secretary Kazi Iqbal Bahar Chaberi, and other members jointly made the proposal in a statement on Saturday.

The association claimed that clients are not receiving services properly due to the limited scale of banking activity.

Huge gatherings at bank branches, caused by a slowdown in activities, has made it impossible to maintain social distancing guidelines, the statement said.

It added that customers of various pension schemes and savings certificates are facing difficulties in getting dividends due to limited scale banking activities, adding to their hardships amidst the crisis. 

The statement also pointed out that the implemented measures are only protecting bankers for the most part, not clients.  

“Although bankers are being protected by the additional security measures, in some cases, the measures are putting the clients at risk,” the statement added.

Earlier, on April 16, Bangladesh Bank (BB) fixed banking hours from 10:00am to 1:00pm during general holidays owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Banks will remain open from 10:00am to 2:00pm while the transaction will be made between 10am and 1pm,” stated a BB circular.

Under this limited scale of operation, banks will provide cash transaction, cheque clearing, demand draft, pay orders, treasury chalan (bill) submission, fresh investment, reinvestment in national savings certificates, and other services under the payment and clearing system.