BRPD Circular Letter No. 17: Regarding Precautionary Measures to Ensure the Safety of the Business Centers of Banks

Bangladesh Bank Chief Executive Office Motijheel, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh. Ref No.: BRPD-Reg & Policy-17 Banking Regulation and Policy Department 07 Jyestha 1430 BRPD Circular Letter No. 17 Date: ---------------- 21 May 2023 Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh. Dear Sir, Regarding taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the bank's business centers.

1. Reference is invited to BRPD Circular No. 07, dated: 05 July 2015, on the above-mentioned subject. Through the aforementioned circular, the Bangladesh Bank has issued various instructions to ensure the safety of the bank's business centers.

2. In order to prevent fire incidents and ensure fire suppression measures in Bangladesh, the government has enacted the Fire Prevention and Suppression Act, 2003; the Fire Prevention and Suppression Rules, 2014; and the National Building Code, 2020.

3. In recent times, significant loss of life and property has been observed due to fire incidents in various parts of the country. Now, in order to prevent fire incidents and ensure fire suppression measures, you are advised to properly comply with the applicable instructions of the aforementioned Act, Rules, and Code. To this end, specifically, arrangements should be made to test the functionality of automatic and manual firefighting equipment in case of fire accidents, and to provide necessary training to all persons working in buildings. Regular fire drills should also be organized.

4. Furthermore, in light of BRPD Circular No. 07/2015, BRPD Circular Letter No. 06/2020, BRPD Circular Letter No. 03/2021, and existing rules and regulations, you are advised to strengthen the safety of the bank's business centers.

5. These instructions are issued under the powers conferred by Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991.

Yours faithfully, (Md. Ali Akbar Farazi) Director (BRPD) Phone-9530252