Law bars Home boss from holding top post in new bank
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir may lose the chairmanship of the proposed Farmers’ Bank, as law does allow a minister to hold a position in a profit-making venture.
Present and former officials of the central bank gave examples of some past incidents when two ministers had to resign from the posts of chairman and adviser of the respective banks before taking the charges of the ministries.
However, the central bank will take a final decision in this regard when the proposed bank will get its licence, a Bangladesh Bank official said.
Former central bank deputy governor and the incumbent chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Khondker Ibrahim Khaled, said nobody can become the chairman of a commercial bank while continuing as a minister.
Khaled said, when Awami League was in power during 1996-2001, Md Abdul Jalil was the chairman of Mercantile Bank Ltd, but he resigned from the chairmanship when he was made the commerce minister.
Also, during the last BNP rule, the then housing minister Mirza Abbas resigned from the post of an adviser to Dhaka Bank Ltd after taking charge of the ministry, said the BB official.
Khaled said the Banking Companies Act does not specifically say anything in this regard, but as per general norms of the central bank, a minister cannot be the chairman of a commercial bank.
Also in line with the constitution of the country, a minister cannot hold any position in a profit-making venture, said the former BB official.
If a minister becomes the chairman of a bank, he may favour the bank using his power as a minister which would cause injustice to other banks, he added.
The central bank in April gave approval to nine new banks, including The Farmers’ Bank. The proposed chairman of the bank is Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir who took oath as a minister in September.
The proposed banks have already applied for licences and their eligibility is being scrutinised now.
Source:The Daily Star
