PM inaugurates Shimanto Bank
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated Shimanto Bank at the Fazlur Rahman Khondoker Auditorium of BGB headquarters, Peelkhana, in the capital this morning.
To be run by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the bank began operations today, aiming at the welfare of BGB personnel and their families as well as contributing to the country's economy.
The prime minister said this was a special Eid gift of her government for the members of BGB. "I hope that this bank will ensure the welfare of the BGB personnel and their families.... It will also generate new employment and play a role in the country's economy," she said.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, senior secretary of the home ministry Dr Mozammel Haque Khan, Bank and Financial Institution Division secretary Mohammad Yunusur Rahman and Shimanto Bank chairman BGB director general Major General Aziz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.
Ministers, parliament members, chiefs of the three services, Dhaka University vice chancellor and high-ranking civil and military officials were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister opened a bank account with the new bank as its first client.
An audio-visual was presented by the Shimanto Bank managing director and CEO Mokhlesur Rahman.
This public sector bank, a brainchild of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, fulfills the long-cherished dream of BGB members.
The mission of the bank is to be a client-friendly sound financial institution contributing to the country's overall advancement as part of its social responsibility.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina instantly gave her verbal consent to the bank when the issue was raised during the her 'darbar' at Peelkhana, marking BGB Day on 20 December, 2014.
BGB director general Major General Aziz Ahmed then took action to set up the bank, and on 20 December, 2015, the prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the BGB Day function unveiled the logo of the bank.
At the same function, the Bangladesh Bank governor handed over the bank's Letter of Intent to the BGB Director General.
On 28 February, 2016, eminent banker Mokhlesur Rahman was appointed as the managing director of the bank. The bank's licence was issued by the Bangladesh Bank on 21 July, 2016.
Shimanto Bank will operate as a sister concern of BGB Welfare Trust which ensures welfare of the BGB members.
BGB members will be given various types of loans on easy conditions alongside deposit pension schemes, house building loans, medical assistance for treatment home and abroad, and finance for the One House One Farm project.
Besides, the bank would also finance BGB's welfare initiatives like Alokito Shimanto and Shamridhir Pothe Shimanto to create employment opportunities leading to economic development of the people in the border areas.
As a commercial bank, Shimanto Bank will deliver banking services to all people across the country especially in the border areas where BGB has its network.
The paid-up capital of the bank was first deposited on 22 June, 2016, while the bank was given its incorporation certificate from the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on 14 July, 2016.
Shimanto Bank was listed as a scheduled bank on 21 July, 2016 by the Bangladesh Bank and the gazette notification was published on 1 August this year.