‘Ex-governor’s disciple Ashraful behind looting’

Although the country was swept by change after the fall of the fascist government in the historic mass uprising of the students in July-August, the syndicates of the past are still active in Bangladesh Bank and the Mint or The Security Printing Corporation.

Concerned circles say that impartial and transparent investigation of such allegations is essential to restore confidence in the banking sector and make structural reforms successful.

Md. Ashraful Alam Gong, a very close and trusted official of controversial former governor Abdur Rouf Talukder and executive director in charge of the BRPD department of Bangladesh Bank, has been accused of looting hundreds of millions of dollars and engaging in sabotage activities in the name of an international mega-project.

According to sources from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), this official was also directly involved in printing money illegally and releasing it into the market to suppress the student and public movements. A special report recently submitted to the highest levels of the government has revealed three horrific mega-corruption cases of this syndicate.

Incredible project to convert 1972 Bhangari machine to 2023 model: The report shows that Ashraful Alam, ignoring the clear opinion of the Technical Evaluation Committee, undertook a strange project in the interest of some contractors of the fascist government.

The project to convert the old 1972 model Toyota machine of the mint to the 2023 model was passed in the name of ‘overhauling’ or renovation. Millions of dollars have been wasted and embezzled in the name of this renovation, which is only on paper and without any new functionality.

OVI and SPARK Project Hooliganism: Hundreds of millions of dollars have been embezzled from the government treasury in the name of introducing highly sensitive note printing technologies ‘OVI’ and ‘SPARK’. The documents mention that this huge amount of money is being looted with the direct connivance of Safayet Arefin, one of Ashraful Alam’s key associates and the current managing director of the mint.

Festival of defective designs and fake notes: The third cunning plan of the syndicate was the design and origination of new conventional banknotes.

Due to printing of notes with very low quality and defective designs, the image of the country in the international arena has been tarnished, and a festival of fake notes has started in the domestic market.

It is alleged that this official, who was a staunch opponent of BNP since his student days, was involved in implementing the fascist agenda even in his professional life.

Those involved in the financial sector say that it is impossible to revive the country’s banking sector unless this bureaucratic syndicate is removed immediately. Preparations are already underway to present a special investigation report in the National Parliament against these irregularities.

In which there is a strong demand for the immediate dismissal of the accused officials from their jobs, a ban on leaving the country, and a forensic audit of the last two years by an international audit firm.

Attempts were made to contact the accused officials in this regard, but they did not respond. In addition, there has been a demand for an impartial investigation into whether the beneficiaries or influential officials of the controversial past in various departments of Bangladesh Bank are still obstructing the reform process.