DOS Circular Letter No. 24: Keeping all schedule bank branches/booths open 24/7 at all port areas of the country

50119

Bangladesh Bank (Central Bank of Bangladesh) Head Office Motijheel, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh.

21 Sraban, 1426 Bangabda 04 August, 2019 AD

DOS Circular Letter No.-24 Date:

Chief Executive All Scheduled Banks operating in Bangladesh.

Dear Sir,

With reference to the subject matter of keeping banking activities open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at all ports, and drawing your attention to DOS Circular Letter No. 18 issued by this department on 09/12/2006, in light of the letter dated 27/06/2019 from the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance (No.-53.00.0000.311.99.026.17-345; copy enclosed), instructions are hereby given to keep the operations of bank branches/booths at ports open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring security, similar to the operations of the Port Authority, with the aim of increasing export earnings and foreign investment through round-the-clock operations at sea ports, land ports, and airports. In this regard, it is advised to take necessary measures to implement the said decision through bilateral discussions with the local administration and port/customs authorities, if necessary.

Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully,

(Signature) (Md. Sirajul Islam) Deputy General Manager Phone: 9530081

Phone: 88-02-9530010-75, 9530700-59, IP-8802-55685001-200, Fax: 88-02-9566212, www.bb.org.bd

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Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Finance Financial Institutions Division (Central Bank Branch) www.fid.gov.bd

No.-53.00.0000.311.99.026.17-345 Date: 13 Ashar 1426 27 June 2019

Subject: Implementation of decisions taken in the Secretary's Meeting held on 12 May 2019 Reference: Semi-official letter from the Cabinet Division: 04.00.0000.732.06.011.18-49; Date: 15/05/2019

With reference to the subject matter, you are requested to send the updated implementation progress of the following decision taken in the Secretary's Meeting held on 12 May 2019 to [akbarbfid@gmail.com and ac.cb@fid.gov.bd] via e-mail by 01 July 2019 under instructions:

"To facilitate round-the-clock operations at sea ports, land ports, and airports with the aim of increasing export earnings and foreign investment, customs and banking activities at all ports must be kept open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, similar to the Port Authority."

(Signature) Md. Main Uddin Assistant Secretary Phone: 9584244

Governor Bangladesh Bank Head Office, Dhaka [Copy to: Deputy General Manager, Department of Off-Site Supervision]

Copy to: 01. Private Secretary to the Senior Secretary, Financial Institutions Division, Dhaka

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7-5- Submit in e-file

Mohammad Shafiul Alam Cabinet Secretary Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka-1000 E-mail: cab_secy@cabinet.gov.bd

Semi-official letter No.-04.00.0000.732.06.011.18-49 Date: 01 Jyestha 1426/15 May 2019

Dear Colleague,

I sincerely thank you for your active participation and constructive discussion in the Secretary's Meeting held on 12 May 2019. In that meeting, you provided valuable opinions and recommendations on various important issues. In light of that, the important decisions taken in the meeting are presented below for your information and necessary action:

1. To facilitate round-the-clock operations at sea ports, land ports, and airports with the aim of increasing export earnings and foreign investment, customs and banking activities at all ports must be kept open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, similar to the Port Authority;

2. Sufficient budget must be allocated for emergency disaster management, and all ministries/departments must coordinate their operations during disasters;

3. The construction work of the new building of the Bangladesh Secretariat must be completed by September 2019, and room allocation work with ministries/departments must be carried out before the completion of the building construction;

4. Secretaries/representatives of ministries/departments must be present during parliamentary question hours and budget presentation to assist the respective ministers;

5. The issue of determining the Discount factor in coordination with bank interest rates in project appraisal may be reviewed;

6. Measures must be taken to ensure proper implementation of the special initiatives of the Honorable Prime Minister;

7. Strict monitoring must be continued to complete the government's fast-track projects on time;

8. Steps must be taken to increase the e-file program in ministries/departments/directorates/agencies to bring more speed in official work;

9. Self-initiated necessary security measures must be ensured in establishments included in KPI. At the same time, necessary security measures must be taken at the field-level offices of ministries/departments/directorates/agencies;

10. Pre-verification must be done through the Ministry of Home Affairs in the issuance of travel passes to Bangladeshi citizens from abroad, including identified transit points in the Middle East;

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11. Recruitment activities for vacant posts in ministries/departments/directorates/agencies must be continued;

12. The Senior Secretary, (Coordination and Reform), Cabinet Division, will prepare an information note after examining existing rules and regulations regarding whether a separate commission can be formed to urgently fill existing vacant posts from Grade 11 to Grade 20;

13. Ministries/departments must take proper action plans for the implementation of the government's election manifesto. Emphasis must be placed on 3 issues in project appraisal: 'My Village My City', 'Strength of Youth', and 'Good Governance';

14. Secretaries will take special initiatives for the proper implementation of ongoing projects under the Annual Development Program;

15. If there is any important issue of their ministry/department that can be presented before the Secretary's Meeting held in the presence of the Honorable Prime Minister, it must be sent to the Cabinet Division within the next week.

16. I draw your personal attention to the above-mentioned decisions of the Secretary's Meeting and specially request you to take necessary measures where applicable.

Best wishes,

Sincerely yours, (Signature) (Mohammad Shafiul Alam)

Mr. Md. Asadul Islam Senior Secretary, Financial Institutions Division