BB seeks explanation from officials over unauthorised press meet

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has served show-cause notices on three of its officials, asking them to explain why they held a press conference and made public remarks on central bank policy decisions in violation of staff regulations.

The notices were issued on Monday, directing the officials to submit their explanations within 10 days, according to BB officials.

The development comes a week after a section of BB officials, under the banner of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council, held a sudden press conference on the central bank premises on 16 February.

At the briefing, the officials criticised BB Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur over several policy issues, including the initiative to merge comparatively weaker banks with EXIM Bank and Social Islami Bank, as well as the process of granting digital bank licences. During the press conference, they described the governor’s stance as “autocratic”.

The officials who received the notices are Nawshad Mostafa, general secretary of the “Nil Dal” at Bangladesh Bank and director of the SME and Special Programmes Department; AKM Masum Billah, president of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council elected from Nil Dal; and Golam Mostafa Shraban, general secretary of the council.

Immediately after issuing the show-cause letters, Bangladesh Bank transferred the three officials from Dhaka office to its offices in Barishal, Rangpur and Bogura.

Read More

BB eases rescheduling terms to support struggling borrowers

Confirming the matter, BB Executive Director and spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan said he had learned about the issuance of the show-cause letters to the three officials. “The issuance of show-cause notices is true. Those whose names appeared in newspapers are on the list. They have been asked to explain. If their responses are not satisfactory, necessary legal action will follow,” he said at a regular press briefing at the BB spokesperson’s office on Tuesday.

He added that since the notices have already been issued, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage. A decision will be communicated after reviewing their responses.

According to BB staff regulations, prior approval from the governor is required before holding press conferences, meetings or seminars, or making public statements. If there are objections regarding the governor or senior officials, internal forums are available for discussion. The organisers of the 16 February press conference did not take prior permission.

A BB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Daily Sun, “The three officials would submit written replies to the show-cause notices, after which further steps would be taken. Although officials from various levels were present at the press conference, only three were issued letters.”