Three BB officials transferred for holding unauthorised press conference

Three officials of Bangladesh Bank (BB) were transferred a day after being served show-cause notices for holding a press conference in violation of staff rules and commenting on policy decisions.

The transfers were ordered today through a notice issued by the central bank’s human resources department.

The transferred officials are Nawshad Mustafa, general secretary of the ‘Nil Dal’ at Bangladesh Bank and director of the SME Special Programmes Department; AKM Masum Billah, president of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council elected from Nil Dal; and Golam Mostafa Shraban, general secretary of the council.

Nawshad Mustafa has been transferred from the head office of Bangladesh Bank to its Barishal office, Masum Billah to Rangpur, and Golam Mostafa Shraban to the Bogura office.

BB issued the show-cause notices yesterday, asking the officials to provide explanations within 10 days.

The development comes a week after a section of BB officials, under the banner of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council, held a press conference on the BB premises.

At the press briefing, called suddenly on February 16, officials described the BB governor’s position as “autocratic” on several issues, including the merger of weaker banks with EXIM Bank and Social Islami Bank and the initiative to grant digital bank licences.