Economic Reporter :
Experts at a workshop on Tuesday called upon the banks and financial institutions (FIs) to follow the Bangladesh Bank (BB) guidelines on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) security to ensure uninterrupted IT security in the banking industry.
“Since many financial products and services directly or indirectly depend on ICT, banks have to think how to involve IT to minimize the cost, increase the efficiency and how to provide better services to the customers ensuring reliability, safety and security,” said Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan.
The deputy governor was speaking as the chief guest at the workshop on “IT Operations of Banks” at the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) in the city.
Among others, former BB Deputy Governor Naznin Sultana, former professor of Dhaka University Economic Department Dr Barkat-a-Khoda and former managing director of the Pubali Bank Professor Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, were present at the workshop.
BIBM Director General Dr Toufic Ahmad Choudhury presided over the workshop. Razee Hassan said the central bank is playing a notable role to maintain smooth and secured e-banking operations.
“BB has taken necessary initiatives for e-banking, e-commerce and e-payment, automated clearing house system and mobile phone banking,” he added.
He said banks have been allowed to make online money transactions, payment of utility bills, transfer of funds, payments for trading goods and services through e-channels like internet, ATM and mobile phone.
Considering the paramount importance of information systems security in banks, BB has issued new version of ICT security guidelines for banking and financial institutions, he added.
The deputy governor believed if the banking system follows this ICT security guidelines properly, banks and FIs will be able to mitigate IT risks at their tolerance level.
Former BB Deputy Governor Naznin Sultana underscored the need for increasing ICT experienced manpower in the country.
“It is time to create awareness among the officials and clients of the banks regarding the IT security,” she added.
