The Bangladesh Central Bank has asked commercial banks to limit the maximum amount of cash they can issue over the coming week.
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“Bangladesh Bank instructed commercial banks this week to limit cash advances to Tk 200,000 per customer,” local media reported.
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As noted, the central bank explained this decision at its disposal by “security problems” and the desire to prevent possible destabilization of the banking sector due to massive cash withdrawals against the backdrop of an unstable political situation in the country.
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According to the publication, the central bank also instructed banks to strengthen control over transactions and suppress any suspicious actions.
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On Monday, August 5, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and her sister left their official residence in Dhaka for a safer location amid unrest. News18 TV channel reported that Hasina resigned and flew to the Indian city of Agartala. The Hindu writes that the former prime minister is seeking asylum in the UK. 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been officially appointed as head of the interim government of Bangladesh. He himself and the entire composition of the provisional government took the oath on the evening of Thursday, August 8.
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Protests and demonstrations against Sheikh Hasina’s government began in Dhaka and across the country last week and intensified following the announcement of a multi-day “non-cooperation action” with the authorities launched on August 4 by the Students’ Movement Against Discrimination. Clashes between anti-government students, police and government supporters escalated into riots. During the entire period of protests and unrest in Bangladesh, according to local media estimates, more than 400 people were killed. A complete end to the unrest has become the top priority of the interim government sworn in on Thursday.
