The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syful Islam

Customers of the most of the privately owned banks are facing immense problem on depositing or withdrawing money as those are running their business with very few branches in the capital city.

During the rush business hours customers have to stand in long queue ranging from 20 minutes to one hour to deposit or withdraw money especially in the city's Motijheel and Gulshan area. Most of the banks have only one or highly two branches for a wide location.

Bank branches run with one or two counters for both deposit and withdrawal of money. Moreover, bank officials often misbehave with the customers if they ask for quick service.

On Sunday, manager (operations) of Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd Motijheel (Foreign Exchange) branch Monem misbehaved with customers once the impatient customers asked cashiers to work fast as they were standing for a long.

Monem told a long queue of customers that they have to tolerate the hassle of long time standing if they want banking service. You have to abide by our rules, said the manager. "Is it our offense that we are doing banking with you… is opening of an account in your bank is our sin?" said an angry customer protesting Monem's remarks.

This is an example, out of many incidences taking part in the Motijheel (Foreign Exchange) branch of Dutch-Bangla bank occurring due to manpower shortage. The bank has only 24 branches in this capital city of one crore people.

Dutch-Bangla bank's ATM booths frequently go out of order as the booths entertain cards of as many as 12 other banks. Most of the times customers have to go back empty pocket despite having a card in pocket and money in the account.

Customers of the Motijheel branch of Brac Bank Ltd also face the same problem during banking. The bank has only 13 branches in Dahka city out of its total 36 branches across the country.

In the Motijheel branch of the bank customers stand in long queue to get banking services. The bank has only 2 branches in busy Motijheel commercial area, which is insufficient for a big customer base.

Despite the bank claim providing online service, customers face immense problem where they go to the ATM booths to withdraw money, as the booths go out of order frequently. The bank has only 32 ATM booths in the city.