BANGLADESH

The government will issue licences for new private commercial banks by April, finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Thursday.

"The new banks will have to begin their work within six months after getting licences," he told reporters after a meeting with visiting Asian Development Bank vice-president Xiaoyu Zhao.

He would not specify how many banks will get the licences. "The decision on this will be taken at a meeting of the Bangladesh Bank's board. I cannot say anything about this," he said.