BRPD Circular Letter No. 26: Conducting Board Meeting through video conference to prevent outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19

BRPD Circular Letter No. 26

Managing Directors / Chief Executives
All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh.

Dear Sir,

Subject: Conducting Board Meetings through video conference to prevent outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19.

1. With reference to BRPD Circular Letter No. 09 issued on 23 March 2020 on the above subject, you are reminded. In view of the possibility of increased risk of Coronavirus infection due to congregations, the Bangladesh Bank has advised that the presence of Directors in person is considered risky. Therefore, until the situation of Coronavirus infection becomes normal, it is advised to conduct meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Audit Committee, and Risk Management Committee through video conference and/or teleconference.

2. In continuation of other instructions, considering the Coronavirus situation, banking operations are moving forward like other important sectors. Limited banking programs are gradually being withdrawn, and Bangladesh Bank is taking various steps to resume normal banking operations. Furthermore, with the assistance of public health experts from the Directorate General of Health Services, advice has been provided to banks and financial institutions to ensure stricter vigilance and safety for the proper implementation of the policy.

3. In this context, the BRPD Guidelines and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the People's Republic of Bangladesh have issued instructions to ensure compliance with the guidelines. Considering the scope of the meetings, a minimum number of members may attend the meeting in person, and the remaining members may participate in the meeting through video conference. However, banks may, at their own discretion, conduct their meetings entirely through video conference. In the case of partial or full meetings held through video conference, the video footage of each participating Director must be retained. Directors participating through video conference will be entitled to their honorarium as per regulations.

4. Meetings held through video conference.

5. Under the power vested in Section 45 of the Companies Act, 1991, this instruction is issued.

Sincerely,

(Mohammad Shahriar Siddique)
Deputy General Manager
Phone: 9530727
Ref No: BRPD-16.00.0000.003.01.001.20-132
Date: 17 Jyestha 1427
17 May 2020

Scheduled Banks.

Banking Regulation and Policy Department
Bangladesh Bank
Head Office
Dhaka.

Date:

Copy to:

1. Governor, Bangladesh Bank.
2. Deputy Governors, Bangladesh Bank.
3. Executive Directors, Bangladesh Bank.
4. All Deputy Governors' Private Secretaries.
5. All General Managers, Bangladesh Bank.
6. All Deputy General Managers, Bangladesh Bank.
7. All Assistant General Managers, Bangladesh Bank.
8. All Deputy General Managers (IT), Bangladesh Bank.
9. All Deputy General Managers (Audit), Bangladesh Bank.
10. All Deputy General Managers (Legal), Bangladesh Bank.
11. All Deputy General Managers (HR), Bangladesh Bank.
12. All Deputy General Managers (Finance), Bangladesh Bank.
13. All Deputy General Managers (Risk), Bangladesh Bank.

Sincerely,

Mohammad Shahriar Siddique
Deputy General Manager
Phone: 9530727