Sikder Group abducted the managing director of Exim Bank, Mohammad Haider Ali Miah, and additional MD, Mohammad Firoz Hossain, took them to their house in Banani and tortured them for not giving them a loan in time. The Sikder Group MD, Ron Haque Sikder, even shot at the Exim Bank MD Haider Ali Miah, the vice chairman of the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB). And the chairman of Exim Bank, Nazrul Islam Majumdar, is the chairman of the bank owners’ apex body, Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB). The Exim Bank authorities have filed a case in this regard with the Gulshan police station.
In an interview with Prothom Alo, former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled, expressed his deep shock about the incident.
“When I heard about the matter, the first question that popped into my head was whether we were ruled by law, or by a number of wealthy ‘groups’,” Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled said, voicing his initial reaction to the incident.
He said that it was no secret that bankers were always working under pressure. Then again, some were said to take bribes. But now it is obvious just how tremendous the pressure is in reality. “An MD was shot at, tortured. That is something so serious. Shooting an MD is unthinkable. Yet this was done by a group close to the government, a group that owns a bank. They are very powerful, unethical and powerful.”
Asked if he thought this was a one-off incident or if such incidents would continue, the former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank pointed out that the case was filed 12 days after the incident and that too because the Exim Bank owners were also a rich and powerful group. One group opened fire, the other group tried to save them. That is why the case was delayed. “I have my doubts whether this case will ever see the light of day,” he said, saying they might get away with this just like BASIC Bank’s chairman Abdul Hye.
“We want to emerge from this misrule to democratic rule,” the veteran banker said, adding that was the only solution. He said that this incident was not the end and that many such incidents took place behind the scenes.
Ibrahim Khaled said that all the bankers will be alarmed. The loan officers will be in constant fear of being shot. The bank sector is in a bad shape and this is taking it to the verge of destruction. In the present circumstances, the bankers will either be shot at or have to leave their jobs.
About how this would affect the bank clients, he said that if the bankers were under such pressure, the clients’ deposits would be at risks. Loans would be given under pressure and the people’s deposits would be plundered. The banks are beset with default loans. That is why the bank was unwilling to provide this loan.
Deliberating over what should be done in the situation, Khandakar Ibrahim Khaled said the government must settle this case immediately and punish the culprits with no other consideration. The central bank too can appeal to the government in this regard because this is a matter of survival for the bank MDs. This is a test as to whether they will be able to work independently or not.
What impact will this incident have on other banks and on the economy?
Ibrahim Khaled said that all the bankers will be alarmed. The loan officers will be in constant fear of being shot. As it is the bank sector is in a bad shape and this is taking it the verge of destruction. In the present circumstances, the bankers will either be shot at or have to leave their jobs.
“Only the political government will be able to salvage the situation,” said Ibrahim Khaled, “We still have hope. Surely there are good days ahead.”