Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Bank clients are reportedly facing a stringent scrutiny while depositing and withdrawing cash from their corresponding banks following the recent fraudulent transactions at ATM booths and Bangladesh Bank’s reserve account with the US Federal Reserve Bank.
Even the individuals and companies are facing a similar scrutiny and extra caution of the banks in opening an account fuelling discontent to the clients, sources said.
Admitting the matter, bankers, however, said that they have enforced a tighter scrutiny in banking services to their clients as per the instruction from the central bank.
“The central bank has asked the banks to follow a “rigorous oversight” and supervision while dealing with the customers in a bid to curb fraudulent transaction as well as money-laundering,” one senior executive of a private bank told The New Nation on Saturday, asking not to be named.
He said, banks are delaying and even blocking transactions for both companies and individuals once questions of suspicious transactions was raised.
“Last week, I went to a private bank for depositing Tk 20,000 to an account of my friend. I had borrowed the amount from him last month. The officer, who was dealing with the cash deposit, first asked me the purpose of the deposit and my relation with the person.
Later, he asked me to give a photocopy of my NID and sought my cell phone number. I could deposit the money after fulfilling his requirement. Such act of the bank official seriously irritated me,” Shafiq Shaheen, a private service holder told The New Nation on Saturday.
“Recently, I went to withdraw Tk 40,000 from my mother’s account held with a public bank branch. I faced tough screening after I placed the cheque to the official concerned,” Abdullah Alvee, a student of a private varsity told The New Nation while narrating his experience to get bank service.
He added, the official quizzed my identity and asked for my mom’s cell phone number. At one stage, he called my mother to verify that she sent me for the cash withdrawal
“We have not introduced any new rules, but the implementation of existing measures has been strengthened,” said a central bank official.
He said, banks have been asked to follow compliance rules regarding cash transfer and withdrawal and opening accounts properly so that they can prevent any potential attempt of capital flight, terror financing and opening of fictitious accounts.
“Banks have also been asked to take more cautious stance in dealing foreign currency transfers with their foreign counterparts to protect the country’s financial system from fraudulent transactions by organised criminal group,” he added.
