BNP asks BB governor to explain heist

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday sought an explanation from Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman over the theft of Tk 800 crore from its account in the US Federal Reserve Bank, reports news agency UNB.

He made the demand at a discussion programme arranged by ‘Zia Cyber Force’ at a hotel in the city’s Mohammadpur area.

Earlier, at a press briefing BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi demanded the resignation of Finance Minister AMA Muhith and the central bank Governor over the massive heist.

“Tk 800 crore has been hacked from Bangladesh Bank’s reserve. But the Bangladesh Bank didn’t yet give any statement over it. The central bank should have done that as the morality demands it. The Governor has gone to India without giving any clarification about it. The nation surely deserves an explanation from him, and he must give it,” said Fakhrul

Echoing his colleague Rizvi, the BNP acting secretary general said Atiur Rahman should resign on morality ground over the swindling of the huge money. “The same way, the finance minister should quit as he was not aware of the incident that took place a month back.”

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has been hacked and $101 million was taken out from the Bangladesh government’s account last month. The sensational heist surfaced after a Philippines newspaper published a report on it.

Referring to plundering of more thousands crore of taka from different banks of the country, Fakhrul said, “Nothing happens here now even after the looting of Tk 800 crore, Tk 4,000 crore or Tk 5,000 crore. The plundering of public money has reached such a state that people have lost their feeling to react.”

The BNP leader said people’s money and property have no security now as money is being also stolen through forging ATM cards. “Now people have neither security of their lives nor their assets as there’s no democracy here.”

He called upon all to get united under BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s leadership to restore democracy in the country.

Source: Prothom-Alo