The Bangladesh Bank Officers Welfare Council has urged the interim government to amend ‘Bangladesh Bank Order 1972’ to ensure full autonomy of the central bank.
The council made the demand in a memorandum submitted to the finance adviser of the interim government Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and later informed journalists about the demand in a press conference at the central bank headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday.
They demanded the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of the finance ministry to be abolished to prevent conflict of interest and dualism in the banking sector.
They also demanded amendments to the related laws and rules to bring back the good governance of the banking and financial sector.
Other demands included structural reform of the central bank’s Board of Directors, inclusion of the post of BB governor as a constitutional post, full ministerial status and appointment of renowned economists or central bank officials as governors; converting the post of Deputy Governor and Head of BFIU to the regular posts and giving the post status as Senior Secretary.
The council recommended that Bangladesh Bank should be kept free from political interference and influence at the time of doing multiple functions related interest rate, exchange rate and licensing of banks or financial institutions.
Acting President of the council Tanveer Ahmed General Secretary AKM Masum Billah and other executives were present in the press conference.
