SFD Circular Letter No. 01: Provide necessary assistance to the victims to prevent the risk of the country's coronavirus infection

Ref: SFD Circular Letter No. 01
Sustainable Finance Department
Bangladesh Bank
Head Office
Dhaka.

Managing Director / Chief Executive
All Scheduled Banks Operating in Bangladesh

Dear Sir,

Regarding providing necessary assistance to prevent the risk of coronavirus infection in the country.

You are aware that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken the shape of a pandemic worldwide. Bangladesh is not free from the risk of coronavirus infection, and the risk of coronavirus infection is increasing day by day in various regions of Bangladesh, including Dhaka.

2. In order to provide health safety to all employees working in your bank to prevent coronavirus, it has become absolutely necessary to take special initiatives without delay. In this regard, you are advised to install thermal scanners at your bank's head office/large branches, arrange hand sanitizers/anti-bacterial hand wash/alkaline soap for all office visits, and arrange masks, hand gloves, and hand sanitizers for all employees/officers working at reception/front desk, cash department in all branches including head office, and for MLASS/messenger/paid daily wage workers, security guards. Furthermore, you are advised to take all necessary arrangements to keep your branches (including ATM booths) regularly free from infection.

3. During this emergency period, your bank can play a significant role in providing necessary medical prescriptions and other medical services, including coronavirus prevention kits (hereinafter referred to as: coronavirus prevention clothing, hand gloves, masks, hand sanitizers/anti-bacterial hand wash/alkaline soap), by negotiating with government-funded hospitals/health complexes through sending appropriate representatives (who comply with coronavirus infection health safety rules) and meeting their demands. In this regard, you are specifically requested to extend humanitarian assistance to coronavirus infected helpless patients under your bank's CSR activities.

SFD Circular Letter No. 01/2020 dated
March 22, 2020
Chaitra 08, 1426

Ref: SFD Circular Letter No. 01
From Previous Page:

4. You are advised to incur expenses for the matters mentioned in paragraph 03 above from your bank's general budget/fund. Furthermore, it is noted that according to GBCSRD Circular No. 07/2014 issued by Bangladesh Bank on December 22, 2014, instructions have been given to spend 30% in the education sector, 20% in the health sector, 10% in the climate risk fund sector, and 40% in other sectors. In this context, you are advised to incur expenses in this sector from the remaining 40% (excluding 30% in the education sector and 10% in the climate risk fund sector) even after spending the allocated 20% in the health sector for coronavirus issues for the current year, as mentioned in paragraph 03 above.

5. You are also instructed to report such expenses under the 'Health' sub-sector of the 'CSR/Community Development' format issued through Circular Letter No. 06 dated June 10, 2015.

These instructions shall be implemented immediately.

Yours faithfully,

(Khandaker Morshed Milon)
General Manager
Phone: 9530320
Email: sustainablefinance@bb.org.bd ms.sfd@bb.org.bd

Ref: SFD Circular Letter No. 01