The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam Thursday asked the commercial banks to publish financial information objectively to ensure corporate governance as the depositors have no representation yet on the board of directors.

"The banks operate on the depositors' money," he said, launching the online banking services of Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited at Hotel Sheraton. Local IT engineers developed the complete software and on-line systems for the bank.

Established in 1995, the bank having 46 branches offered online banking services to its clients from on Thursday. The Finance Adviser called upon the commercial banks to give special attention in publishing financial statements through which depositors could know the poor or better performing banks. Bangladesh Bank recently instructed the commercial banks to nominate two directors in their respective boards from the depositors, but the banks have so far found it difficult to choose such nominees from a huge number of depositors.

Dr Aziz also asked the banks to comply with the banking rules and regulations as well as to improve banking services. He expected that the online services would help improve the services of Al-Arafah Bank. The bank's chairman, Mohammed Anwar Hossain, and managing director MA Samad Sheikh also spoke on the occasion.