Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has advised that banks may use their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support public awareness activities related to the upcoming national referendum. The suggestion came during a meeting with managing directors and chief executives of all banks held at Bangladesh Bank on Sunday. The referendum, scheduled for February 12, aims to implement the July National Charter, and the interim government is conducting awareness campaigns to encourage a ‘yes’ vote.

During the meeting, the governor emphasized that raising public awareness about the referendum is a collective responsibility and that banks should contribute to informing citizens about the potential impacts if the charter is not implemented. He also urged caution in fund management during the election period, noting that the central bank has injected about Tk 46,000 crore into the market after purchasing over USD 3.75 billion this fiscal year.

Separately, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has intensified monitoring of cash transactions to prevent the use of illicit funds ahead of the election, requiring weekly reporting of transactions exceeding Tk 1 million until further notice.