Grameenphone has been asked to stop and withdraw its TV commercial on its 'Mobicash' service as it was found to be illegal and also aired without permission of the Bangladesh Bank, reports UNB.
The country's leading private mobile operator has been providing cash transfer and payment service through mobile banking deals with six private commercial banks under its Mobicash brand.
These banks and services are Dutch Bangla Mobile Banking Service; ONE Bank "Ok" Mobile Banking Service; MYCash service of Mercantile Bank Ltd; mCash service of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.; UCash service of United Commercial Bank; the IFIC bank's Mobile Banking service - MobiCash - is also supposed to be launched soon.
The central bank took the move following press reports that mass people are being cheated due to an advertisement of the Grameenphone under the title of 'dreams starts from here, dreams without boundary'.
However, the mobile banking service through six banks will run as usual, said the central bank officials.
Sources said the Bangladesh Bank summoned the GP's CEO Vivek Sood on Thursday afternoon and asked for his clarification about the TV advertisement.
Bangladesh Bank general manager Asaduzzaman informed that the CEO of GP has expressed regret for the illegal advertisement. Bangladesh Bank then asked him to stop the advertisement and immediately withdraw it.
The central bank also directed the GP to remake the TV commercial as per compliance of the Bangladesh Bank and then air with its permission.
Official sources said the central bank found the TV commercial of the GP a confusing one as it did not mention anything that it is a banking service under the central bank's compliances.
Officials said the central bank recently cancelled the mobile banking service of Prime Bank following allegations that its dealer company has cheated a huge number of people by taking money to provide job for the service.
Officials said the GP was also asked to take permission for its e-ticketing service and also mobile bill payment service now being provided under contract with different utility service companies like WASA, Titas, DPDC and DESCO.
