The state-owned commercial banks should adopt latest technologies to bring banking services to a large number of unbanked people in the country.
The observation was made by the speakers at a ceremony organised by the Janata Bank Limited at a city hotel on Sunday evening to accord reception to its top three exporters and best clients.
The top three clients of the bank are Beximco Limited, Multi-fabs Limited and Organic Shrimp Export Limited.
Representatives of the three organisations received crests and certificates of honour from the guests and the bank's high-ups.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman joined the ceremony as the chief guest, while Janata Bank Chairman Dr S M Mahfuzur Rahman presided over the function.
Janata Bank's Director Muhammed Asad Ullah and its Managing Director (MD) & CEO Md Abdus Salam Azad, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Beximco Group Chairman Ahmed Sohail F Rahman, Multi-fabs' Director Salman Faruki, and Organic Shrimps' MD Dr Syed Abu Asfar received the awards.
Speaking on the occasion, Salman F Rahman said the country's state-owned banks had made significant contributions to the flourishing of many conglomerates since Bangladesh became an independent nation.
Though there are questions involving performance of the public banks, they proved their necessity on several occasions, he said.
"The public banks have proved their efficacy in dealing with the economic fallout induced by the pandemic by implementing the government's initiative," he said, adding that they needed to be more competitive.
The state-owned banks, including Janata, should make the best use of technologies to carry the banking services to the country's unbanked population, said Mr Rahman, who is also the vice-chairman of the Beximco Group.
Janata Bank's Chairman Dr S M Mahfuzur Rahman said Bangladesh's economic development had been a marvelous one as it had grown by almost 768 times since the country's independence.
Public sector lenders have played a vital role in this journey, he said.
He also said Janata Bank would bring new products and services for its clients and ensure transparency in its operations.
