Parliamentary panel headed by MK Alamgir wants Bangladesh Bank work scrutinised

A parliamentary committee headed by Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir has sought, on the basis of a newspaper report, a scrutiny of the Bangladesh Bank’s functioning.

This comes within days of the central bank ordering an investigation into the workings of the bank Alamgir owns.

Committee member Md Rustum Ali Faraji told bdnews24.com that the decision had been prompted by a newspaper report, quoting remarks by Public Administration Minister and Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam concerning the central bank.

Awami League MP Alamgir chaired a meeting of the public accounts committee on Sunday in which Farazi, Afsarul Amin, Rebecca Momin and AKM Mayeedul Islam also took part.

The committee decided to summon Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman at its next meeting to discuss the banking sector.

Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir (File Photo)

The central bank ordered strict surveillance last week on the operations of the Farmers Bank Limited owned by former home minister Alamgir after loan irregularities to the tune of Tk 4 billion came to light.

And, within four days of that decision, the parliamentary committee raised the issue of the apex bank’s functioning, citing Syed Ashraf’s remarks.

At an interactive meet with businessmen in Kishoreganj on Saturday, Ashraf criticised the high interest charged on bank loans.

“Just as the Bangladesh Bank is suffering from ‘jaundice’ so is the finance minister and the finance ministry. They don’t have any outlook,” he had said.

“A report published in a paper says Bangladesh Bank is suffering from jaundice. The committee discussed the issue when a member drew its attention to it,” Faraji told bdnews24.com at the end of the public accounts committee meeting.

“The committee felt the need to discuss the workings of the Bangladesh Bank, as an issue had been raised concerning that. The audit office has been asked to file a report.”

Jatiya Party member Mayeedul Islam had raised the matter, a Parliament Secretariat official told bdnews24.com on condition of anonymity.

Mayeedul Islam was not available for comments.

The Parliament Secretariat in a media statement said the committee discussed Syed Ashraf's reported remark of Jan 17, saying that the ‘Bangladesh Bank and the finance ministry were suffering from jaundice’.

“In this context, the committee has asked the audit office to submit a report after doing a special scrutiny of Bangladesh Bank operations,” the statement said.