Private bank owners of Bangladesh expected that they wouldn't receive any unlawful diktat from government high-ups henceforth as that can create new oligarchs like in the recent past.
"The creation of oligarchs like S Alam was patronised by the past government. The government asked the banks to provide money to them. Directives were issued to let S Alam do whatever he wanted," said Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman, Bangladesh Association of Banks.
Mr Sarker was talking to newsmen after a meeting with Finance Adviser of the interim government Dr Salehuddin Ahmed at the latter's office in Bangladesh secretariat on Thursday.
"We hope the present government would not interfere on banks for creation of any more S Alam-like oligarchs," he said, replying to a query.
Regarding discussion with the adviser, Mr Sarker said they sought good lending policy so that they can give loans at low cost and can get back the money.
"Many people have left by looting our money. Most of the borrowers are not giving money back," he said, in the wake of a hunt for the tycoons following the change of government.
He said in the past the central bank had been asked by government high-ups to do unlawful acts and so the banks had fallen prey by following the regulator's orders.
"We proposed the adviser to seek loan package from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral lenders to help rescue the nine problem banks," he said.
Asked whether problem banks can be rescued this way, Mr Sarker answered in the affirmative.
To book the defaulters who left the country, he demanded that they should not be given chance to run court cases staying abroad through their representatives or lawyers. "They should attend the courts physically."
Talking to newsmen, the finance adviser said they discussed banking -sector problems and reforms. "There are some specific problems in banks like loans and liquidity crisis. We asked them to talk with the central bank in this regard."
The bank owners wanted that while conducting the reforms their opinion must be reflected.
"I have requested them to ensure that bankers give loan through proper scrutiny and no deviation occurs like in the past," he said, adding that he asked them to provide loans to small and medium enterprises adequately.
Mr Ahmed said he also asked the bank owners to ensure governance-transparency and accountability in the banking sector.
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