BB directs banks to open accounts for garment workers
The central bank yesterday asked all banks to help apparel workers open low-cost accounts to foster financial inclusion.
“If they (victims of the Rana Plaza collapse) had received their payments through bank accounts, their relatives could have taken the wages and benefits from their accounts now,” Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman said at a meeting with all managing directors at his office.
The governor said the bank accounts for the apparel workers will require a small opening deposit and banks can take it under their corporate social responsibility, he said.
He cited the example of low-cost accounts that were opened by the state banks for farmers.
According to BB officials, more than 96 lakh farmers' accounts were opened so far, but a majority of those accounts remain inactive.
“The banks that have mobile banking services can immediately open accounts for the workers,” Rahman suggested.
However, bankers said they need more time to respond to the governor's appeal.
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