Bangladesh Bank yesterday started a weeklong roadshow styled “Unnayaner Ovijatra-Teknaf to Tetulia” with 40 vehicles to create mass awareness among people on farm loans and money laundering.
The roadshow also aims to spread awareness on financing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and sending remittances through legal channels.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman inaugurated the roadshow at Teknaf Degree College at noon, marking the country's 40th Independent and National Day. The roadshow will end on April 2 at Tetulia.
At the ceremony, Atiur said the roadshow will educate the countrymen about financing and risk management in investment and how to get agriculture loans, SME loans easily.
He also said the central bank wants to ensure inclusive banking for all so that people from even the remote areas could make transactions through formal channels.
The central bank chief alerted the audience about the dreadful effect of money laundering on economy saying bankers as well as the people should check money laundering and remain alert to money launderers.
He also said the money that is coming through illegal channel is being used to finance militancy and spreading crime.
UNB adds: The BB governor advised the banks executives to further strengthen their monitoring activities against money laundering.
"The roadshow will make the people understand how disastrous the hundi business is," he said.
The governor also suggested the bankers to extend more services to the farmers and entrepreneurs in the rural areas.
He called the farmers to go to the banks for getting affordable service instead of costly borrowing from the rural mahajans.
Dr Atiur later disbursed farm loans among 11 farmers at the function.
Murshid Kuli Khan, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, Kaiser A Chowdhury, managing director of AB Bank, Aftabul Alam, chairman of SME Foundation, and local lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi, among others were present at the inaugural ceremony.
As part of the programme, the central bank will organise rallies and discussions at 13 points including Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Feni, Comilla, Tangail, Sirajganj, Bogra, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Tetulia.