In the elections of the Officers’ Welfare Council of Bangladesh Bank, the pro-Awami League Blue Panel achieved a landslide victory. Candidates from the Blue Panel won key positions, including president, vice president, and general secretary. Only one candidate from the BNP-aligned Green Panel secured a position.
The voting was held on Wednesday at the central bank’s headquarters from morning until 5 PM.
Out of 15 positions, nine were won by candidates from the Blue Panel. They are:
- President: AKM Masum Billah
- Vice President: Tanvir Ahmed
- General Secretary: Golam Mostafa Sravon
- Joint Secretary: AUM Manna Bhuiyan
- Treasurer: Afsana Chowdhury
- Office Secretary: Sagor Sarker
- Members: Mostaq Ahmed and Pronoy Roy Shuvo
This sweeping victory by the pro-Awami League faction has already sparked significant criticism in the banking sector.
Observers note that while the Awami League has often faced accusations of rigging elections through “nighttime voting,” this time they secured victory in broad daylight at the central bank. Critics argue that such dominance in Bangladesh Bank, even after the fall of the so-called fascist government, signals ominous prospects for the economy.
Bankers allege that officials in the central bank, directly involved in the financial plundering during the Awami League’s extended rule, often justified their actions as being carried out under political pressure. This election, however, exposes how deeply entrenched Awami League allies remain in the central bank.
A senior central bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that while Awami League affiliates are increasingly sidelined in other sectors, the central bank presents a contrasting picture. Under the leadership of former governors Fazle Kabir and Abdur Rouf Talukder, the central bank operated within a structured framework that the current governor, Ahsan H. Mansur, has not disrupted. No punitive measures have been taken against those involved in financial irregularities.
The official added that after the government’s fall, a select group has worked to suppress evidence of wrongdoing, such as loan fraud and money laundering. This group continues to exert influence within the central bank, allegedly shielding themselves from scrutiny while dominating the institution.
Critics have raised concerns about how ongoing reforms in the financial sector can succeed given such a scenario within the regulatory authority.
From the other panels, the winners are:
- Green Panel: Vice President Amitava Chakraborty
- Yellow Panel: Five winners, including Organizational Secretary Ramendu Das Palash, Publicity Secretary Shah Md. Yakimul Alam, and members Shahriar Rahman Sams, Sabikun Nahar Shirin, and Abid Ali Mogul.
