DT
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016
Banking Secretary Aslam made OSD over cyber heist n Asif Showkat Kallol Bank and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam was made an OSD yesterday as part of actions taken in connection with the cyber-heist of $101 million from Bangladesh Bank's reserve fund. After a pre-budget meeting yesterday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith informed reporters that Aslam Alam had been made an OSD (officer on special duty) because his division was responsible for monitoring the central bank. An official at the Bank and Financial Institutions Division alleged that Aslam was made a scapegoat. The finance minister did not take any action against Atiur Rahman in seven days after he had come to learn about the hacking of Bangladesh Bank's reserve fund kept at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, USA. But, when Aslam Alam initiated some actions – he went to Bangladesh Bank after returning from
abroad on March 14 and inquired about the heist – he was made an OSD, said the official. At a press briefing following his visit to the central bank, Aslam Alam said the stealing of $101 million exposed the faulty and weak IT systems management at Bangladesh Bank. He also said the central bank should have informed its board and the Finance Ministry about the incident. The source at the Bank and Financial Institutions Division said governor Atiur Rahman tendered his resignation after the secretary had made his moves. An officer of the 1982 special BCS batch, Aslam Alam was made the secretary of the Bank and Financial Institutions Division in November 2012. After getting the responsibility, Aslam Alam streamlined the scamhit state-run Sonali Bank and BASIC Bank, sources said. Aslam Alam will go on retirement on June 30, 2019. l
HC scraps Tarek Sayeed’s petition n Ashif Islam Shaon
The High Court yesterday rejected the petition filed by sacked RAB official Lt Col (retd) Tarek Sayeed Mohammad for scrapping the trial against him in one of the two Narayanganj seven-murder cases. The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain passed the order. “We are not convinced to issue a rule in this regard. The petition is rejected summarily,” the court said in the order. The court concluded the hearing on March 13 and kept yesterday for pronouncing the order. On March 7, one of the judges of another High Court bench felt embarrassed to hear the petition. Then the new bench was assigned to dispose of the case. Tarek’s lawyer Golam Kibria said that the petition was filed on the ground that an accused cannot be tried and punished separately for a single offence. The same officer investigated both the cases and submitted the same charge sheets to the trial court. It is unlawful. Kibria said that they would appeal against the High Court order. l
DG-268/16 (6x2)
Trader tagged in $81 million BB heist flees Philippines
BNP demands government resign over BB money theft
Businessman Kim Wong, who is among 6 traders under probe for money laundering, left Philippines even before the story on the infusion of $81 million of stolen money into the banking system broke. Wong, according to sources at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), left on March 4 on Philippine Airlines flight PR 300 to Hong Kong. His flight left around 6pm. Also under probe are: Michael Francisco Cruz; Jessir Christopher Lagrosas; Alfred Santos Vergara, Enrico Teodoro Vasquez, and William So Go Wong is one of six traders being investigated by the Anti-Money Laundering Council after they were implicated in the alleged cross-border electronic fraud and money laundering scheme which allegedly infused into the Philippine banking system some $81 million stolen by computer hackers from the US account of the Bank of Bangladesh. The Inquirer learned that Wong, whose full name is Kam Sin Wong, has been using multiple passports to enter the Philippines. l
n Mohammad Al-Masum Mollah
n Tribune Report
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah yesterday said not only the Bangladesh Bank governor, but also the prime minister, finance minister and others involved should resign for the theft of a large money reserve from Bangladesh Bank. He also demanded a judicial inquiry into the financial scandal to punish the culprits. The BNP leader made the observation while talking to reporters after a visit to Engineers Institution in the capital, as a venue for BNP’s upcoming national council. He made the statement soon after Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman announced his resignation. Hannan also expressed his doubts about the amount of the stolen money. “As per the information I have, the money is not Tk800 crore, it is over $800 million. Why did the
governor alone take responsibility for the incident? There is a minister and governor over him,” he said. “If this was a sporadic incident, then the governor may have been blamed. But, the governor alone cannot be blamed now,” he added. If the bank’s deputy governor and general manager were patriotic, this incident might not have taken place. “Who are they? Identify them,” he then said. The BNP leader also said the theft is impossible without inside involvement of Bangladesh Bank officials. “I have seen a list of Bangladesh bank officials. Friends in the media will check this list. The theft could not have happened without the involvement of some Bangladesh Bank officials. The government should resign for this,” he said. The BNP chairperson's adviser Ruhul Alam Chowdhury, Bangladesh Chhatra Dal president Razib Ahsan, and other leaders of its discipline subcommittee were present when these statements were made. l