BFIU head’s contract cancelled for controversial video

The government has cancelled the appointment of AFM Shahinul Islam, head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), as per the recommendation of the probe panel formed to check the authenticity of a controversial image/video of Islam.

As per Article 7 of the agreement signed with Islam, the remaining tenure of his contractual appointment as the chief officer of the BFIU has been terminated, the Financial Institutions Division (FID) said in a notice issued today, adding that the instruction will take immediate effect.

Earlier, on August 21 this year, the FID formed a four-member committee to probe and submit an inquiry report on the controversial image/video of Islam that was circulating on social media.

The committee submitted the report yesterday, and until today Islam had been on forced leave.

After the circulation of the controversial video, in a statement, Mohammad Shahriar Siddiqui, director and assistant spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, said, "If the allegations are proven on the basis of the investigation report, legal action will be taken against him."

In the meantime, in the interest of the investigation, the government directed the BFIU chief to remain on leave, according to the BB statement.

Last month, a section of Bangladesh Bank officials and employees submitted a memorandum to the governor, stating that multiple objectionable videos of Islam circulating on social media had severely damaged the image of the state and the institution.

Following the fall of the Awami League-led government, former BFIU chief Md Masud Biswas was forced to resign on August 8 last year amid protests from central bank officials. The post remained vacant for a long time before Islam was appointed in January this year.