- Officers involved in bank robbery submitted CVs for Deputy Governor
-I believe they must nominate financially competent, efficient and clean image persons for the post of Deputy Governor. Reforms are futile if privileged groups come back again.
Zahid Hossain, Ex-economist of World Bank
After Sheikh Hasina’s oust and fled from the country on August 5, Awami League's beneficiary bank officials are in dire straits. After the fall of the government, the ministers-MPs and senior officials of the administration fled also. On August 8, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Dr Muhammad Yunus. Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rauf Talukder announced his resignation from an undisclosed location.
Under the circumstances, Economist Ahsan H Mansoor took the responsibility as the 13th governor of the country, who is the director of Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh and former chairman of BRAC Bank. After taking charge, this distinguished economist took a big initiative to reorganize the board of directors of the banks. At the beginning of the reforms, the governor took the initiative to make the Sharia-based banks 'robber-free'. He disbanded the board of directors of 12 banks including Islami Bank under the authority of S Alam Group. Besides, he stopped giving illegal financial benefits to banks and Issued limitation for cash withdrawals from banks.
After August 6, Bangladesh Bank officials who suffered discrimination started an unprecedented protest demanding the resignation of S Alam's close governor and deputy governor. After that, Abdur Rauf Talukdar resigned. Later Deputy Governor Kazi Saidur Rahman, Khurshid Alam, BFIU Chief Masud Biswas and Policy Adviser Abu Farah Md Naser were forced to resign. After that, the Ministry of Finance formed a three-member search committee to appoint four Deputy Governors of Bangladesh Bank.
Although the finance ministry has formed a search committee, some executive directors of the central bank have already submitted their CVs to become deputy governors. Against whom there is an allegation of co-operation with the group favored by the former government and their associates.
The controversial executive director and spokesman of the central bank is Majbaul Haq in this list. A case has already been filed against him in the case of reserve theft on February 4, 2016.
Also, some officers who are most involved in bank robbery have submitted their CVs to the search committee from the Deputy Governor. Among them are Central Bank Executive Director Anwarul Islam, Executive Director Saiful Islam, Executive Director Kazi Rafiqul Hasan and Bangladesh Bank Chittagong Branch Executive Director Aref Hossain Khan.
Among them, there are hundreds of complaints against Anwarul who is an executive director of S Alam, including breaking the law of the central bank and taking viva test of the private Fast Security Islami Bank. Recently he was transferred to Rangpur after allegations of lobbying for S Alam to get loans. However, he once again came to the head office of the central bank with influence of power. Resigned Governor Talukdar has played a major role behind this.
Meanwhile, Executive Director Majbaul Haque has been accused of being the biggest 'corrupt' official of Bangladesh Bank and the biggest friend of bank 'robbers'. He has also been presented as the spokesperson of the controversial S Alam group. This official is very close to former Prime Minister's son and ICC State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak. He has banned journalists from entering the central bank from this March 2024 for undermining his power and concealing information about money looting.
Mezbaul Haque, with the connivance of Sajib Wazed Joy and Palak, disregarded the banking law and helped the mobile financial services company Nagad to operate without a license in an unethical manner. Moreover, there are allegations against this officer of money laundering abroad.
Executive Director Kazi Rafiqul Hasan is accused of being a 'devout well-wisher' of Beximco Group and S Alam Group. During his tenure at Bangladesh Bank's Chittagong office, he was 'trusted' by giving special benefits to S Alam Group. The issue of his illegal acquisition of property has also come to the fore.
The list includes Executive Director Saiful Islam, who is the 'well-wisher' of the S Alam Group, identified as the biggest looter in the banking sector. He joined Bangladesh Bank as an Assistant Director and worked in the Banking Regulatory and Policy Department (BRPD) for four cadres i.e. Deputy General Manager. He served for a long time in this very important department in favor of special business groups. He has done illegal things like many notifications by changing the law when necessary to give financial benefits to his favored group. Even after becoming the Executive Director, this department remains under him.
Aref Hossain Khan, who was in charge of the executive director of Chittagong branch of Bangladesh Bank, is alleged with money embezzlement. He is also known as a close associate of S Alam Group Chairman Saiful Alam Masood in the bank area. He is known as Tadbir Aref in the bank branches in Chittagong.
It is known that the names of the people who have been recommended as deputy governors by the search committee in the meeting held on Monday, August 19, are among those.
Those related to the banking sector said that some individuals have built a mountain of wealth by paralyzing the country's economy. Besides, Tk thousands of crores have been smuggled abroad. People of the country are moving around with the burden of debt and some people are living a luxurious life. Now is the time to get rid of them. They also said that the interim government is trying to do that. The bank officials also said that it is unfortunate that the name of the looters in the bank sector has been included in the deputy governor's list for years.
Zahid Hossain, the former chief economist of World Bank's Dhaka office said, "Reform of the financial sector is very important. The search committee that has been constituted to appoint the Deputy Governor is very efficient. I believe they must nominate financially competent, efficient, clean and clean image persons for the post of Deputy Governor. There is no need to hurry in this case. Reforms are futile if privileged groups come back again.'
ZH
