Difficulty in forex transaction forces people to suffer in Barisal
Saturday, 7 June 2008
BARISAL, June 6 (UNB): People of Barisal region, specially the patients and tourists, are facing problems for transaction of foreign currency as the authorised banks are denying to provide desired service in this regard.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) sources said only seven banks have been given licence for foreign exchange (forex) transaction in the divisional headquarters of Barisal while the customers said only one is giving limited service.
According to the BB source, foreign currency transaction licences were given to seven banks, including Janata Bank Corporate branch, Agrani Bank Chawk Bazar branch, Rupali Bank Sadar Road branch and Barisal main branches of Uttara, Pubali, Prime and National banks.
Sonali Bank Ltd., the largest nationalised bank of the country, is not providing foreign currency to the clients.
However, local people said only the National Bank is giving limited services for foreign currency transaction to people while six other banks only deal with exporters and importers.
Managers of those six banks said that due to shortage of trained manpower and absence of online banking and automation services they are forced to hold back from giving daily foreign currency transaction services to the people of other sectors.
People mainly visitors, tourists, patients often face the problem due to lack of foreign currency in the divisional city, sources said.
They said the officials of foreign currency licence holder banks advise them to go to the private money exchanges for foreign exchange transaction.
They said they are facing additional problem as the certificates of private money exchanges are not accepted as valid documents by many foreign embassies.
Sudhir Ranjan, general manager of Bangladesh Bank Barisal branch, said the BB will request the concerned banks for regular foreign currency transaction, or else their licences will be cancelled after inquiry.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) sources said only seven banks have been given licence for foreign exchange (forex) transaction in the divisional headquarters of Barisal while the customers said only one is giving limited service.
According to the BB source, foreign currency transaction licences were given to seven banks, including Janata Bank Corporate branch, Agrani Bank Chawk Bazar branch, Rupali Bank Sadar Road branch and Barisal main branches of Uttara, Pubali, Prime and National banks.
Sonali Bank Ltd., the largest nationalised bank of the country, is not providing foreign currency to the clients.
However, local people said only the National Bank is giving limited services for foreign currency transaction to people while six other banks only deal with exporters and importers.
Managers of those six banks said that due to shortage of trained manpower and absence of online banking and automation services they are forced to hold back from giving daily foreign currency transaction services to the people of other sectors.
People mainly visitors, tourists, patients often face the problem due to lack of foreign currency in the divisional city, sources said.
They said the officials of foreign currency licence holder banks advise them to go to the private money exchanges for foreign exchange transaction.
They said they are facing additional problem as the certificates of private money exchanges are not accepted as valid documents by many foreign embassies.
Sudhir Ranjan, general manager of Bangladesh Bank Barisal branch, said the BB will request the concerned banks for regular foreign currency transaction, or else their licences will be cancelled after inquiry.