A group of Bangladesh Bank officials on Wednesday urged the interim government to remove two deputy governors, Nurun Nahar and Habibur Rahman, who were appointed during the tenure of the Awami League-led government.
The officials claimed that the appointments were made based on political considerations, leading to a lack of trust in their leadership.
The officials pointed at the extensive irregularities, corruptions, and skyrocketing defaulted loans during the Awami League鈥檚 15-year rule.
Non-performing loans surged from Tk 22,000 crore in 2009 to Tk 2,10,000 crore in June 2024.
As a result, 10 to 15 banks are now struggling to return depositors鈥� money due to mounting distressed assets.
The protesting officials also expressed concern that employees involved in these malpractices remained active in the central bank and was now attempting to create unrests.
They said that the Bangladesh Bank鈥檚 Officers鈥� Welfare Council was also organising a programme called 鈥楤B Nights鈥� at the International Convention City Bashundhara on October 20, which, they fear, could聽聽 further destabilise the already fragile financial sector amidst the ongoing banking crisis.
They called for the event be cancelled to avoid aggravating the situation.
They also demanded identifying the officials who colluded with the looters, including groups like S Alam Group, in the country鈥檚 banking sector and taking action against them.
They urged for initiating internal reforms in the Bangladesh Bank by appointing honest and competent officials and ensure transparency and accountability in the central bank while guaranteeing its legal, financial, operational and managerial autonomy.
