Six top officials, including all the four deputy governors of Bangladesh Bank, have resigned following protests by bank employees accusing them of facilitating corruption, unethical practices, and misappropriation within the banking sector.
The protest began around 10:30 am on Wednesday when a group of aggrieved bank employees gathered at the Governor Building of Bangladesh Bank, chanting slogans—‘fraud, fraud’– and demanding the removal of the accused officials.
According to the eyewitnesses, four deputy governors, the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit and Policy Advisor Abu Farah Md Nasser resigned under pressure from the protesting employees.
Other top officials including the five left the central bank premises under military protection to ensure their safety.
The Governor of Bangladesh Bank was absent from his office on Wednesday, as he was the previous day.
The protests were fueled by allegations that these officials had approved anonymous loans worth billions of taka to several groups, including the S Alam Group.
The bank employees entered the office of Deputy Governor Kazi Saidur Rahman, compelling him to write and sign his resignation on a blank sheet of paper. Following this, he left the bank.
The unrest at Bangladesh Bank highlights the growing dissatisfaction and demand for accountability within the country’s financial institutions.
As the situation unfolds, the future leadership of the central bank remains uncertain, with calls for transparency and integrity echoing throughout the financial sector.
