Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The central bank of Bangladesh has advised the commercial banks to take police protection to ensure security for their cash management, particularly for Automated Teller Machine (ATM) operations, during the shutdowns and blockades.
The central bank has taken the measure against the backdrop of difficulties in managing cash properly by the banks due to the ongoing political turmoil centring the next parliamentary election.
Besides, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) sent a letter on Tuesday to the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) requesting him to provide police forces to the banks in accordance with their requirements.
“The central bank has advised the banks to take police protection, if necessary, to ensure safe loading of cash into ATMs,” a BB senior official said, adding that the BB has decided to provide fresh bank notes to the banks for using those at their ATMs easily.
Currently, normal cash transactions in the country's banking system are being hampered owing to the countrywide blockade, enforced by the BNP-led 18-pary alliance to press for immediate cancellation of the polls schedule and to protest implicating its senior leaders in ‘false cases’ and torture and repression of its activists.
BBN/SSR/AD-04Dec13-12:44 pm (BST)