Qazi Baharul Islam is a Bangladeshi academic and former chairman of Sonali Bank,[1][2] the largest bank in the country.[3][4] He was the chairman during the Hallmark-Sonali Bank Loan Scam.[5][6]
Early life
editIslam did his post graduate studies in political science at the University of Dhaka.[7]
Career
editIslam had served as the general manager of the United Kingdom branch of Sonali Bank in 1988.[7][8]
From 2005 to 2007, Islam was the principal of Rupali Bank Training Academy.[9]
After Awami League had come to power in January 2009, Islam chairman of Sonali Bank, Khondoker Bazlul Hoque chairman of Agrani Bank, and Abul Barakat chairman of Janata Bank.[10]
The Hallmark-Sonali Bank Loan Scam refers to BDT 37 billion Hallmark Group took as loans from Sonali Bank when Islam was chairman of the bank.[11] Bangladesh Bank recommended the removal of all directors of Sonali Bank but the Minister of Finance Abul Maal Abdul Muhith criticised the recommendation.[12] The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Finance was unhappy with the state banks and began its own investigations.[12] The majority of the loans were disbursed from Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch.[13]
Professor A. H. M. Habibur Rahman replaced Islam as chairman of Sonali Bank on 27 December 2012 two months after his term had ended.[13] The Awami League government was criticized over corruption in state owned banks and appointing party loyalists.[13][12] The government extended the tenure of the following governors Abul Barkat of Janata Bank, Ahmed Al-Kabir of Rupali Bank, Khondoker Bazlul Hoque of Agrani Bank, Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation, and Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu of BASIC Bank for two years.[12]
The Anti-Corruption Commission stopped its investigation into Islam and other former board members of Sonali Bank over the Hallmark-Sonali Bank Loan Scam in 2013 and 2014.[11][14] The commission had investigated and questioned him and 11 directors of Sonali Bank.[15][16] The board of directors had blamed Islam over the scam.[17] The news site Banglanews24.com, identified him as the mastermind behind embezzling money from Sonali Bank.[18] He would openly defy Atiur Rahman, governor of Bangladesh Bank, and would overrule the board of directors of Sonali Bank.[18]
Ahsan H Mansur questioned why Islam and directors of Sonali Bank were not charged in March 2024.[19] He noted that two former directors, Jannat Ara Henry and Shaimum Sarwar Kamal had become members of parliament from the Awami League.[19] Ahsan H Mansur and Salehuddin Ahmed both were critical of the trials of officials of the bank, describing them as small fish, ignoring the directors.[20][19]
References
edit- ^ "Directors picked on political consideration". The Daily Star. 2009-09-10. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ Byron, Rejaul Karim (2010-12-26). "Loan recovery in slow lane". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Corporatisation not a panacea for NCBs' problems". The Financial Express. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
For example, Sonali Bank Limited, the largest bank in the country ...
- ^ "Bangladeshi bank allowed back in Britain". BBC. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
Bangladesh's largest commercial bank, the Sonali Bank ...
- ^ "All 6 chairmen get extension". The Daily Star. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ Shah, Nasir Uddin. "70 bank officials held by ACC in 6 months | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ a b "Sonali Bank's new chairman takes over". The Daily Star. 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "SONALI BANK filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Rupali Bank Training Academy". rbta.rupalibank.com.bd. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "3 state-owned banks get new chairmen". The Daily Star. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
- ^ a b "Directors go scot free, bank officials chased". New Age. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Scam-hit bank chairmen get extension". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ a b c "Govt names new Sonali Bank Chairman". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "Sonali Bank bigwigs off the hook". Dhaka Mirror. 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "সোনালী ব্যাংকের ১১ পরিচালককে দুদকে তলব". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "2 directors of Sonali deny links". The Daily Star. 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ bdnews24.com. "মাননীয় অর্থমন্ত্রী কি সত্যি-ই দুঃখিত?". মাননীয় অর্থমন্ত্রী কি সত্যি-ই দুঃখিত?. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "হলমার্ক কেলেঙ্কারির নাটের গুরু বহাল তবিয়তে স্বপদে". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ a b c "Hallmark convicts are small fry: AH Mansur". New Age. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Hallmark trial process not comprehensible: Salehuddin". New Age. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.