The Asian Development Bank has launched a new country partnership strategy (CPS) for Bangladesh with a plan to accelerate lending in order to boost competitiveness, employment, green growth and social protection.

SM Amjad Hossain, chairman of South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank, has expressed his intention to resign, citing illness.

State-owned Sonali Bank Limited secured top position among all government banks in implementing an annual performance agreement 2020-21 signed with the finance ministry’s Financial Institutions Division. 

The Bangladesh Bank yesterday unveiled a guideline on non-banking assets to allow lenders to deal with the properties put up as collateral after borrowers default. 

Prime Bank Limited has conducted a trial transaction in secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) with Wells Fargo Bank, New York on August 25 as the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) would cease to exist after June 2023.   

The Bangladesh Bank yesterday asked banks not to charge students any fee for carrying out transactions related to Bangabandhu Education Insurance through their school banking accounts.

Standard Chartered Bangladesh has donated three pressure swing adsorption oxygen plants for charitable hospitals run by Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital, Thengamara Mohila Sabaj Sangha (TMSS) and United Trust in Chattogram, Jamalpur and Bogra respectively. 

Some investors and campaigners expressed dismay on Friday at revelations that World Bank leaders pressured staff to boost China’s score in an influential report that ranks countries on how easy it is to do business there.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) yesterday asked banks to reappoint bankers who were sacked without any specific and proven charges.

Bangladesh Bank yesterday fined NRB Bank Tk 49.50 lakh for breaching securities rules by buying the shares of Pioneer Insurance beyond the investment ceiling.

City Bank Limited has recently organised a mourning and remembrance event in memory of late Anwar Hossain, former chairman of the bank and founder and chairman of the Anwar Group of Industries, at the bank’s head office in Dhaka. 

In a bid to bring about discipline in the rescheduling of loans by non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), Bangladesh Bank has announced that these institutions cannot reschedule one loan more than three times.

Banks and non-banks are increasingly introducing contactless credit cards in Bangladesh as the tap-and-pay technology allows users to make payments digitally and avoid close contact with the staff of stores during in-person purchases.

Mastercard yesterday concluded its spend and win campaign “The Grand Escape” with a virtual award ceremony in Dhaka. 

Bangladesh Bank yesterday unveiled a fresh Tk 3,000 crore refinance scheme to provide low-cost loans to farmers with a view to supporting farm production amid the coronavirus pandemic.

HSBC Bangladesh has recently introduced an HSBC Cash Flow Forecasting tool that allows businesses to generate a more accurate view of their future finances and liquidity position. 

Sri Lanka’s central bank chief resigned Friday over  “political and personal issues” as a foreign exchange crisis intensified and the government imposed new import controls.

Brac Bank Limited and Green Delta Insurance Company Limited recently signed a memorandum of understanding to offer microinsurance services to livestock farmers in rural areas.

Mobile financial service provider bKash has recently launched an integrated transaction service with Community Bank Bangladesh Limited. 

Bangladesh’s top trade body yesterday urged banks to take actions against the wilful loan defaulters to bring down the amount of bad loans.