Central Bank Pledges Digital Overhaul for Ansar-VDP Development Bank

Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostakur Rahman has met a high-level delegation from Ansar-VDP Development Bank to map out a comprehensive modernisation and digital transformation framework for the specialised financial institution. Held on Tuesday at the central bank headquarters in Dhaka, the strategic meeting produced several key policy commitments aimed at enhancing operational capacity and broadening financial inclusion for members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP).

Paving the Way for Financial Inclusion and Core Systems

Discussions centred heavily on securing pre-finance authorisation for the Ansar and VDP’s flagship initiative, the ‘Sanjiban Project’. Governor Mostakur Rahman assured the delegation that Bangladesh Bank would expedite the approval process for the Sanjiban sanction upon completion of statutory procedures. The project is expected to create new socioeconomic opportunities for millions of grassroots members across the country by providing targeted credit facilities and micro-entrepreneurship support.

To support this digital expansion, both parties addressed human resource shortages currently hampering the deployment of the bank’s Core Banking System (CBS). To resolve these operational bottlenecks, central bank officials committed to completing recruitment for 205 vacant officer posts through the Bankers’ Selection Committee (BSC) within the next three months. Stakeholders emphasised that filling these technical positions remains vital for building long-term technological resilience and accelerating the full rollout of centralised online banking across all rural branches.

Integration into National Electronic Payment Gateways

Another strategic priority discussed was integrating Ansar-VDP Development Bank into national payment and clearing networks. Officials reviewed progress toward linking the specialised bank directly to the Bangladesh Automated Clearing House (BACH), National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB), and Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN).

Once these technical integrations go live, Ansar and VDP personnel alongside general account holders will benefit from seamless direct fund transfers, automated salary disbursements, and secure online payments. This integration marks a crucial milestone in shifting the rural lender from traditional manual accounting to a fully interoperable digital ecosystem.

The meeting brought together key leadership from both institutions. The delegation was led by Major General Abdul Motalib Sazzad Mahmud, Director General of the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP and Chairman of Ansar-VDP Development Bank, accompanied by the bank’s Managing Director Mir Mofazzal Hossain. Representing the central bank alongside Governor Rahman were Deputy Governors Dr Kabir Ahmed and Md. Sarwar Hossain, both of whom confirmed ongoing technical support to ensure the bank’s smooth transition into modern digital operations.