Despite being the regulator of the banking industry, Bangladesh Bank believes that it has nothing to do with the recent unpleasant incident between a state minister and a managing director of a private bank that jolted the country’s banking sector.
“Banks are not under pressure or risk for the incident,” Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday.
The governor said the central bank could do nothing about it unless the bank concerned lodges a complaint.
A top official of the BB, however, termed the incident ‘ominous’ and said the government should clear it up.
State Minister for Water Resources Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar’s move to intimidate MA Samad Sheikh, managing director of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, on Saturday dented the image of the minister and the government as well.
After hurling abusive words over phone the minister sent five of his staff, including driver and gunman, to abduct the managing director of the bank as was reported in the media.
The incident happened because of the minister’s undue intervention in the bank’s internal affairs. Talukdar asked the MD of the bank not to discharge an officer of the bank charged with corruption and poor performance.
As the managing director of the bank could not recognise him he felt insulted.
“We would have taken the issue seriously if the minister had forced the MD to resign,” said Dr Atiur Rahman. “BB will not probe into the matter.”
Another official termed the incident ominous because the minister threatened MA Samad with linking him to the banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB).
“The government should clarify the issue before the nation and the people involved in the banking sector,” he said.
The 65-year-old MD has quite a good image and honesty, he said. He had never faced such situation in his 40 years in the banking sector.
“The situation might have a negative impact on the country’s financial sector,” said the BB official.
Meanwhile, sources in the government said the cabinet was embarrassed with the incident but still it is not thinking about taking any action.
“The prime minister’s office (PMO) has ordered agencies concerned to let it know the fact,” a source in the PMO said.
The bank officials said members of Special Branch of Police came to the bank on Sunday for verification.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
