The existing law permits only two members of a family to be the directors of a bank.
The cabinet gave the approval at its weekly meeting held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
While briefing reporters after the meeting, cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said it was the desire of the founding directors of private banks that four members of a family should be allowed to be directors of a bank instead of two. ‘The Bangladesh Bank has also given a positive note in this regard,’ he said.
As per the amended law, he said, one director will be able to remain in his post for nine consecutive years. ‘After giving a three-year break, he will be eligible to be director again for another nine years,’ he said.
Currently, one is allowed to remain director of a bank for six years and after a three-year break he or she can be director for another six years.
The draft law also restricts commercial banks from selecting, nominating, appointing and posting anyone to the posts of director, managing director and chief executive officer without any prior approval of the central bank.
‘If the Bangladesh Bank rejects the selection, nomination, appointment and posting that will stand cancelled,’ the cabinet secretary said.
The cabinet also approved in principle the draft of a new law titled ‘One Stop Services Act, 2017’ aimed at attracting more local and foreign investment in the country.
Under the proposed draft law, a central one stop service authority comprising four authorities namely Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority and Bangladesh High-tech Park Authority will work through coordination among themselves.
Some 27 types of services, including 16 common services like trade license, visa assistance, electricity, gas, water, telephone services, would be provided from there to lessen the sufferings of investors.
Shafiul Alam said necessary rules will be formulated later to ensure services.
He said the officials who fail to comply with rules and ensure services within the fixed time will be held responsible for misconduct and the officials concerned will be punished for that.
Source: New Age
