Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has imposed ban on transactions with 9 banks. Authorities concerned have already asked to refrain from accepting all types of pay orders, checks, bank guarantees issued by these banks.
The port secretary said that on the advice of the port chairman after reviewing the overall issue,, instructions have been given to refrain from accepting all types of pay orders, checks, bank guarantees issued with the said bank branches.
Chief Finance and Accounting Officer of Chittagong Port Authority Mohammad Abdus Shakur gave this instruction in a letter on Thursday.
CPA secretary Omar Faruq confirmed this information on Saturday.
Banks banned from transactions are - Global Islami Bank PLC, Union Bank PLC, Bangladesh Commerce Bank PLC, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, First Security Islami Bank PLC, Social Islami Bank PLC, Padma Bank PLC, National Bank PLC and ICB Islami Bank PLC.
Port Secretary Omar Faruq said, "All depositors have the right to withdraw their deposits from the bank at any time they need but the banks are failing to pay the interest amount. Notices have been given to banks from which interest is not available. We have not received any response from them, which is not expected from them at all”.
It is known that there is an investment of Tk 179 crore in Khatunganj branch of Padma Bank against 22 term deposits of Chittagong port. As per banking policy, Padma Bank stopped paying interest to the port from February last year, even though there is an obligation to pay interest on the expiry date of the deposit.
In this situation, the port authority sent a letter for encashment of Tk 95 crore against six of the 22 term deposits of that branch. However, the bank authorities did not respond.
Apart from Padma Bank, Basic Bank, ICB, National Bank and Global Islami Bank are not depositing money in the fund of the port even after sending the letter.
Besides, S Alam related Social Islami Bank has deposits of Tk 212 crore in Chittagong, Tk 190 crore in four branches of First Security Islami Bank, Tk 115 crore in two branches of Global Islami Bank and Tk 411 crore in 11 branches of Union Bank.
