ISPR clarifies Moeen's remark on banks

Inter-service Public Relations (ISPR) yesterday termed "unwarranted" some newspaper reports stating that Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed brought allegations of blackmailing against all banks while addressing the AGM of Bangladesh Association of Bankers (Bab) on Tuesday.
The military press wing clarified that as chairman of the Trust Bank, General Moeen attended the Bab's annual general meeting at its office on August 21.
"Speaking as chairman of a bank, the army chief highlighted important issues of the banking sector as well as praised various constructive activities of the banks," it said.
On certain banking regulations, which were to be implemented before the promulgation of the state of emergency, General Moeen mentioned that hasty move to strictly implement those rules after the emergency had caused sufferings to clients.
"As a matter of fact," the ISPR said, the army chief made the remarks targeting the "over-enthusiastic activities by some banks".
But, the ISPR said, the newspapers reported that the army chief accused all banks of "blackmailing", which is completely unwanted.
It said the army chief also advised the banks not to strictly enforce the regulations unnecessarily and to be caring about the clients by guarding against over-enthusiastic activities.