Staff Reporter :The central bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman is likely to face music as he faces serious credibility crisis following the $101 million cyber heist from an account of Bangladesh Bank (BB) maintained with the US Federal Reserve Bank in New York.The governor, who is currently in India on an official visit, may be asked to resign on arrival to home, according to sources in the Finance Ministry. He is reportedly foreign tour crazy and took at least 14 foreign trips during last 14 months when discipline in the central bank almost collapsed.They said the Ministry has already initiated proceedings in this regard.”The Finance Minister will sit in a meeting with the Prime Minister in a day or two. He will seek removal of BB governor at the meeting,” a Senior Finance Ministry official told The New Nation on Sunday, who preferred not to be named. Earlier, on the day, Finance Minister AMA Muhith expressed angry reaction when the journalists questioned about the role of the central bank over the cyberheist.”The central bank has showed audacity by not informing this to the government and the Ministry will take action against BB for their role, said Muhith. He added: “I will talk with the Prime Minister within one or two days in this regard. And next course of action would be taken in the light of the discussion with the Prime Minister.” The Finnace Ministry official said that the cyber scam tarnished reputation of the central bank at home and abroad. The debacle has also shaken public trust in the institution.The incident raised question about the governance system and oversight of the central bank led by the governor.”It is a big scam and the governor should shoulder the responsibility,” he added.Dr. Atiur Rahman, an economist by profession, took charge of BB, the Central Bank of Bangladesh, for a four-year tenure on May 1, 2009 His tenure has been extended for another three years and three months upto August 2, 2016 by which time he will be 65.Prior to his assumption of the office of the Governor, he was a Professor of Economics in the Department of Development Studies (2006-2009), University of Dhaka, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shamunnay, a development research organisation in Bangladesh.
