Staff Reporter :
Six state-owned banks, including Sonali, Janata, Agrani, Rupali, Basic, and Bangladesh Development Bank (BDBL), have been operating without Managing Directors (MDs) for nearly a month.
The Finance Ministry formally terminated the contracts of the MDs of these banks on September 19th. Consequently, these banks have been functioning without their top executives.
In response to the termination, the chairmen of these banks urged the Finance Advisor, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, to appoint new MDs quickly.
On Monday (October 14th), the chairmen of Sonali Bank, Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Agrani Bank, Syed Abu Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed, and Rupali Bank, Nazrul Huda, met with the Finance Advisor.
They emphasized the need to fill the vacant MD positions as soon as possible.
A chairman present at the meeting confirmed that they have formally requested the appointment of new MDs and the Finance Advisor has assured them that the matter will be considered.
Since the September 19th letter, the MDs have been officially removed from their positions. As a result, the banks have been operating without their top executives.
When contacted, Bangladesh Bank’s spokesperson, Husne Ara Shikha on Wednesday told The New Nation, “The central bank are not overseeing the state owned banks.
It is Finance ministry who look after those state owned banks.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed, the Finance Ministry Affair Adviser could not be reached over telephone to get his comments on this issue.
When contacted, eminent economist Professor Dr. Moinul Islam told The New Nation on Wednesday, “The banks face losses due to absence of MDs for the last one month. It is not good for good governance for those state owned banks.”