‘Former BASIS president Almas hatching conspiracy to shut Metronet’

Staff Reporter :
Metronet Bangladesh, largest internet service provider in the country, is at risk of shutdown due to irregularities of its former chief executive officer (CEO) Syed Almas Kabir.
Almas is a former president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).
“Syed Almas Kabir is hatching conspiracy against Metronet by issuing letters to different banks and financial institutions sans approval of board,'” Metronet Managing Director (MD) Mustafa Rafiqul Islam came up with the allegation at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Sunday.
Metronet additional managing director Ferdous Azam Khan, deputy managing director Mahbubul Alam and senior executive vice-president Rahat Khan were also present on the occasion.
Mustafa claimed that Almas has violated the rules of company for gaining personal interest despite holding only 2 per cent share of Metronet.
Metronet serves national emergency information service 999 (Triple Nine), banks, MFS, Chittagong Stock Exchange, NID database, e-passport and many public private entities.
Mustafa also alleged that Rahim Afroz and Syed Almas Kabir have withdrawn about Tk 30 million from Metronet in financial year 2020-21 and about Tk 80 million in the name of share purchase in FY 2022-23.
He also said that legal action will be taken against them for illegally withdrawing a total of Tk 110 million from Metronet accounts.
The Metronet MD complained that the current board has been managing the day-to-day operations of the company properly after December 5, 2022.  
“Syed Almas Kabir has been conspiratorially issuing letters to various banks to stop transactions since December 8. He also issued letters to customers including various banks for non-payment of bills,” Mustafa said, adding, “Due to anti-company activities, Almas has been relieved from both the posts of director and managing director of Metronet.”