Bangladesh Bank has written to the Inspector General of Police to beef up security at banks in view of intensifying political violence across the country ahead of the Jan 5 elections.The security cover, including the deployment of police, should be increased at the main and branch offices of all banks to help them function smoothly, the central bank said in a letter.
The banking sector has also come under the sabotage of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir over the trial of war crimes since Feb this year.
Violence has intensified across the country, as the BNP has been calling shutdowns and blockades over the past two months demanding the holding of the next polls under a ‘non-party’ caretaker government.
Several incidents of violence and arson attacks have been reported. Many inadvertent attacks like violence and arson have recently taken place where banks are situated as a result of the current unrest, the central bank said in its letter.
“Such incidents are very risky for the banks. These are getting in the way of providing banking services to the customers and businessmen as well as panicking the bank employees and officials.”
In the circumstances, the central bank has sought greater security at all banks for the sake of smooth operation.
Banks had earlier approached the central bank for increasing their security in view of the political unrest.
A copy of the central bank’s letter has also been sent to the home minister, the finance ministry and other financial institutions.-bdnews24.com
