DHAKA, Aug 20, 2024 (BSS) - The leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) today urged the central bank Governor to
take effective steps for restoring discipline in the banking sector, curbing
inflation and boosting inward remittance and foreign currency reserve.

The FBCCI delegation, headed by its President Mahbubul Alam, made the request
at a courtesy call on Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur held at the
latter's office today.

Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar and other senior officials were present on the
occasion.

At the very outset of the meeting, the FBCCI president congratulated Dr
Mansur for assumption of his office as the 13th central bank Governor.

He hoped that the Bangladesh Bank under the strong leadership of the new
Governor would play a strong role in restoring discipline in the banking
sector including curbing inflation, boosting inward remittance flow and
reserve and thus build an investment-friendly Bangladesh.

Besides, the chief of the country's apex trade body also welcomed the move
for forming Banking Commission for bringing reforms and restoring discipline
in the banking sector.

Mahbubul said that if the proposed Banking Commission is formed and becomes
effective, then discipline would be restored in the financial sector while
the country's trade, commerce and economy would stand on a solid foundation.

In order to the expedite the pace of country's economy, he suggested for
keeping stable the interest rates of bank loans, supplying necessary foreign
currency to keep normal the import and export operations, providing support
to the SMEs and affected industries, increasing the amount of Export
Development Fund (EDF) and enhancing the timeframe for repayment of
installments of unpaid loans to six months from three months.

The FBCCI delegation include former presidents MA Kashem, Abdul Awal Mintoo,
M Jashim Uddin, senior vice president M Amin Helali, vice president M Munir
Hossain, DCCI president Ashraf Ahmed, MCCI president Kamran T Rahman, BGMEA
acting president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, BTMA president Shawkat Aziz Russel,
BKMEA executive president Mohammad Hatem, BTMA vice president Mohammad Faizur
Rahman Bhuiyan, BARVIDA president M Habib Ullah Dawn.