Muhith lashes out Abul Barakat

Reacting to a comment made by Janata Bank's outgoing Chairman Abul Barakat, Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith has said, "I have no wish to make any comment about this statement. I don't even remember what he (Barakat) is referring to. I have kept him for five years, I think that is enough." The Finance Minister was speaking to journalists at the secretariat today, Tuesday, after a meeting regarding multi-purpose funds.

Speaking at a programme yesterday, Abul Barakat said that the Finance Minister had sent a letter to Janata Bank with his recommendation, asking for funds for a boat race in the Sunamganj haor area. When the money was not provided, the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) programme of four banks, including Janata Bank, was suspended due to supposed asset and provision deficiencies. Barakat said that the Finance Minister had been wrong and foolish to suspend the CSR programme.

Abul Mal Abdul Muhith has said his office had no record of any such incident. Referring to Barakat, he said, "His term has come to an end and will not be renewed. That is why he might be upset."

Muhith said, "There are many 'intellectual giants' among Awami League supporters. We have to tend to them, but that does not mean a person will remain chairman of the board forever."

Replying to why the CSR programme was closed down, the minister replied, "The term of the bank's board was coming to an end and I noted a tendency for extra expenditure for CSR." He says that is why all the CSR programmes were shut down.

As to whether there had been irregularities or corruption in the CSR programme, the minister said, "It could have been utilised better."

Minister for Culture Asaduzzaman Noor and Cabinet Secretary Mohammed Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan were present at the meeting.