a2i Program partners with NRB Bank, City Bank Ltd. to extend banking services to citizens
DHAKA, July 31 (NsNewsWire) —
Introduction of ‘Agent Banking’ services at the digital center is an important initiative of the Access to
Information (a2i) Programme of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division to take
financial services to the doorsteps of the marginalised people across the country. On Tuesday 31 July
2018, at the conference room of ICT Division, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed
between the a2i Programme, the NRB Bank Limited, and the City Bank Limited. a2i’s Project Director
and Joint Secretary to Bangladesh government Mr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman (PAA), Managing Director of
NRB Bank Limited Mr. Md. Mehmood Husain, and Additional Managing Director of the City Bank Ltd.
Mr. Mashrur Arefin signed the MoUs on behalf of their organizations.
The major purpose of this MoU is to create access to financial services for the unbanked communities
through leveraging on the nationwide network of digital centres. To do so, a2i and banks would work
together to operate and extend these services that would reduce time, cost, and visits required to access
financial services. This would address the Honorable Prime Minister’s directive to expand financial
services to the marginalised groups. The MoU will help escalate financial inclusion initiatives to create
linkage between impoverished communities and financial service providers. It is believed that this will
create positive change in the rural economy and make significant contribution to the implementation of
by present government’s agenda “Digital Bangladesh Vision 2041”. Through the MoU, citizens can now
receive different important banking services including opening bank account, microcredit facilities and
deposit by agents, lending at fixed interest rate, deposit and withdrawal of funds, fund application using
clearing check and by borrowing, instalment distribution and encashment, remittance payments,
request for account balance, collect forms for applying to different services, deposit pension scheme
(DPS), fixed deposit receipt (FDR), and money maker scheme.
Since its inception, the Access to Information (a2i) Programme of the Information and Communication
Technology Division has been working to simplify service delivery process and create access to citizencentric services to the doorsteps of people all across Bangladesh. Currently, agent banking services are
being provided at 3200 digital centers nationwide. In this case, Bank Asia Limited, NRB Commercial
Bank Limited and Madhumati Bank Limited are cooperating with a2i.
Among others, Program Manager for Digital Financial Services at a2i Programme Mr. Md. Tohurul Hasan
Tutul, Head of ‘Agent Banking’ Division of NRB Bank Mr. Milton Roy, Head of Agent Banking Division of
City Bank Mr. Quazi Mortuza Ali, and senior officials of a2i Programme and concerned banks were also
present.
Press Release