The Bangladesh Bank (BB) is set to discontinue five services, including the sale of national savings certificates and prize bonds, in a strategic move to streamline its operations and prioritize core regulatory responsibilities. Among the services being halted are the exchange of damaged notes, acceptance of treasury challans, and provision of change against challans. The central bank has communicated this decision to the finance ministry and is preparing to release a public announcement shortly. Effective November 30, individuals will need to utilize these services through commercial banks as the central bank transitions away from providing them. Traditionally, individuals have accessed these services at the central bank’s Motijheel office and branches nationwide, but they will now be exclusively managed by commercial banks.
Arief Hossain Khan, the executive director and spokesperson for the BB, clarified to the media that these services fall outside the central bank’s primary functions. However, the exchange of damaged notes will continue at the BB to comply with specific regulatory obligations. Certain services such as coin exchange, sale of commemorative coins, resolution of disputes concerning mutilated notes, and transactions with banks will still be accessible at the 16 counters located at the Motijheel headquarters of the central bank. BB Governor Ahsan H Mansur has directed officials to concentrate on the bank’s essential functions and control public access to services that can be provided elsewhere. Plans are underway to gradually phase out the remaining services, following the governor’s directive. Similar adjustments are anticipated to be implemented at the central bank’s branch offices in other regions.