Bangladesh Bank Requires CEO and CAMLCO Joint Sign-Off on AML/CFT Inspection Responses
Bangladesh Bank has directed banks, finance companies and mobile financial service providers to obtain joint sign-off from their chief executive and chief anti-money laundering compliance officer on key responses to AML/CFT supervisory inspections.
The instruction was issued on 20 September 2026 by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, according to local reports citing the central bank directive. It applies to compliance reports submitted after regular or special inspections, special financial statements, replies to show-cause notices and other explanations requested in connection with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing supervision.
Under the new requirement, the managing director or chief executive officer and the institution’s Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer (CAMLCO) must jointly sign the relevant submissions. Where the MD or CEO is absent, a legally authorised person may sign in accordance with applicable rules.
The directive follows Bangladesh Bank’s finding that some compliance reports and explanations were being submitted without the signatures of institutions’ chief executives. The central bank said that practice was inconsistent with institutional governance and compliance frameworks.
Bangladesh Bank’s AML/CFT supervisory process includes regular and special inspections of regulated institutions. Following an inspection, institutions may be required to explain identified issues, respond to show-cause notices or provide additional information. The new sign-off requirement places formal responsibility for those responses at both executive-management and AML compliance levels rather than leaving inspection correspondence solely within the compliance function.
The measure is consistent with the CAMLCO’s established role as the senior officer responsible for coordinating AML/CFT compliance and acting as a contact point with the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit. Bangladesh Bank updated separate CAMLCO-related requirements for money changers in August 2026, including responsibility for ensuring compliance with applicable AML/CFT laws, rules and BFIU instructions.
