Banks need to have a separate internet service line dedicated solely to financial institutions to continue their operations and prevent losses from incidents like the recent nationwide internet shutdown.
Selim RF Hussain, chairman of the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh and managing director of BRAC Bank, made the statement after a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank officials led by its governor Abdur Rouf Talukder on Thursday.
鈥榃e discussed the losses and difficulties banks faced during the unrest and internet shutdown,鈥� Selim said. 鈥楤anks should not be affected by internet shutdowns; therefore, we need to consider alternative solutions.鈥�
He mentioned that the central bank was considering separate infrastructure for the banking sector and its IT department would soon provide a detailed proposal to the governor, which would be shared with the banks.
鈥業t is not appropriate for social media and banks to operate on the same line. We need a dedicated line for banks to ensure that operations continue even if the internet is down,鈥� he added.
Regarding remittance inflow, Selim noted that fluctuations in the dollar rate would not impact the inflow. 鈥榃e are not concerned about it. Remitters will eventually send remittance to the country through formal channels to their family members as they love their country,鈥� he said.
The government imposed a curfew starting midnight July 19 amid unrests over quota reform protests in the country.
Since July 16, more than 200 people had been killed and several thousand injured in the protests.
An internet blackout beginning on July 18 in the country amid the unrests further halted digital and mobile financial services, bankers said.
The curfew was relaxed on July 24, allowing offices and banks to operate for a certain period in line with the easing of the curfew. All offices resumed operations following normal schedule on Wednesday.
A partial restoration of broadband internet began on the evening of July 23, with a gradual expansion of the services. Mobile internet services were restored on July 28.