The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has closed down the bank accounts of Bangladesh High Commission in London, Birmingham and Manchester. In its explanation of the closure of the bank accounts of the Bangladesh mission in three major cities of the UK, the HSBC said: “This was part of a strategic decision following an assessment of their business with embassies/high commissions that missions’ accounts should not be a focus area of the bank.” Admitting the closure of the mission’s accounts in London, Birmingham and Manchester, the Bangladesh High Commission in the UK issued a press statement late Friday night (Bangladesh time) saying that the HSBC Bank informed it of their decision on June 11, 2013 to close the mission’s bank accounts in 60 days.
The Bangladesh High Commission in London requested the HSBC to extend the date for closure facilitating shifting of its bank accounts from HSBC to another bank. The HSBC authorities complied with the request of the Bangladesh mission and agreed to extend the date till September 12.
The Bangladesh mission was, however, able to open its new accounts with the NatWest Bank on August 5, 2013 for the ones that were closed with the HSBC and all funds were transferred to the new accounts. These accounts are now fully functional, the statement from the Bangladesh mission said.
In view of the decision of the HSBC Bank, the Bangladesh High Commission in London took up the matter of shifting its accounts to NatWest Bank. The commission maintains its imprest account with NatWest Bank, the statement said adding that the accounts maintained with HSBC related to only direct debit paid by card for consular services and the Wage Earners Welfare Fund.
Earlier, the manager of the HSBC Bank in London had informally informed the mission that they recently had an issue with one embassy in London, which had prompted them not to continue the existing accounts for embassies and missions of over 40 countries of the world.
The Bangladesh High Commission said that the HSBC had advised them that the decision to discontinue the accounts of embassies/high commissions was a “general decision” concerning accounts of all those missions and was not specific to Bangladesh. “Bangladesh High Commission does not have an issue with HSBC,” the statement said.
Agencies add: The Vatican’s ambassadorial office in Britain, the Apostolic Nunciature, is among those said to be affected. The head of the UK’s Consular Corps told the Mail on Sunday the decision has created “havoc.” The Foreign Office has been in touch with HSBC.
-With The Independent input
