BRPD Circular Letter No. 13: Directives to Prevent Outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Ref No: BRPD Circular Letter No. 13 Banking Regulation and Policy Department Bangladesh Bank Head Office Dhaka. 23 February 2021 BRPD Circular Letter No. 13 Date: -------------------- 10 Falgun 1427 Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh.

Dear Sir,

Regarding the role of banks in preventing the outbreak of Corona Virus.

Reference is drawn to your attention to BRPD Circular No. 05; dated 22 March 2020 and BRPD Circular Letter No. 41; dated 18 August 2020 on the subject cited above.

2. In order to maintain the role of the banking sector in promoting economic momentum in the country, the following instructions shall be followed in respect of paragraphs 5 and 6 mentioned in the above circular and circular letter:

a) Paragraph No. 5: In granting leave to high-risk individuals, women facing honor-based threats, and employees who have come into contact with persons infected with or infected by COVID-19, the respective banks may take decisions based on their operational guidelines (in the case of foreign commercial banks, the Country Management Team or the responsible equivalent committee/team).

b) Paragraph No. 6: All necessary meetings and seminars must be organized virtually, and in case of special need for in-person organization, the guidelines of the DGHS shall be followed. Furthermore, travel abroad for official/personal work should be discouraged; however, travel may be undertaken for urgent needs subject to approval from the competent authority.

3. In addition, other instructions of BRPD Circular No. 05/2020 and Circular Letter No. 41/2020 shall remain unchanged.

Yours faithfully,

(Md. Nazrul Islam) General Manager Phone: 9530252