The central bank issued show-cause notices to 10 more banks on Monday for allegedly providing misleading information about the foreign exchange rate, particularly for importers.
"We've already sent the show-cause notices to the banks concerned," a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) told the FE.
He also said the chief executive officers (CEOs) and managing directors (MDs) of the banks have been asked to reply to the show-cause notices by November 15.
The BB issued the show-cause notices based on the findings of its investigation conducted in the port city recently, the central banker explained.
The central bank probe team found that the banks reported the BC (Bill for Collection) selling rate at Tk 83.85 to the central bank, although they sold the greenback to the importers at the rates ranging from Tk 84.00 to Tk 85.50.
"We will take necessary action after examining the replies of the banks concerned," the BB official said without elaborating.
The banks include two foreign commercial banks, five fourth-generation banks, one state-owned commercial bank (SoCB), one third-generation bank and another first-generation bank.
Earlier on October 28 last, the central bank issued show-cause notices to nine banks on the same grounds.
The central bank is now scrutinising the responses by nine banks on their alleged attempts to mislead the BB with 'false information' about the foreign exchange rates offered particularly to the importers.
In response to show-cause notices, the banks had clarified their positions on the allegations and sought exemption from the allegations, according to the BB officials.
"We'll take the next course of action after completing scrutiny of the clarifications submitted by the banks concerned earlier," another BB official noted.
However, the demand for US dollar is increasing gradually mainly due to higher import payment pressure, particularly for petroleum products and capital machinery, according to the market operators.
They also sought more supportive role from the central bank in keeping the country's foreign exchange market stable.
The central bank has been providing its foreign exchange support continuously through selling US dollars to the banks for settlement of import bills.
As part of the move, a total of $500 million has been sold to the commercial banks since July 01 in the current fiscal year, the BB data showed.
The central bank may continue providing such foreign currency support to the banks in line with market requirements, the BB officials added.
The US dollar was quoted at Tk 83.85 in the interbank foreign exchange market on Monday which remained unchanged from the previous level.
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