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Loan Remarks

Muhith says sorry

Sonali board’s role questioned

Staff Correspondent
Facing a barrage of criticism both in and outside parliament, Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday made an apology for his remarks on the Sonali Bank loan scam that the Tk 4,000 crore swindled by Hall-Mark Group was a paltry amount.
“I should not have made the
remarks on that day [Sunday]. I am seeking apology. I'm withdrawing the remarks.... There is a huge hue and cry about the forgery. I think I am now the most hated person in the country," he told the House.
The entire nation has reached a consensus that exemplary punishment must be meted out to the perpetrators of the crime so that nobody dares to commit such an offence in future, added the minister. The lawmakers of the ruling AL-led grand alliance blasted Muhith for the second consecutive day yesterday for his comment and handling of the scam.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present in parliament.
The issue was first raised by two AL MPs Shahiduzzaman Sarker and Enamul Haque while they were speaking on a private member’s resolution to set up development banks in their respective constituencies. They demanded the government take action against persons involved in the Hall-Mark scam.
In response, the finance minister described the prevailing situation and his ministry’s action after the revelation of the forgery.
“The board of directors approved a loan of Tk 65 crore to Hall-Mark. Later a forgery syndicate in league with some bank officials embezzled the huge amount of money through issuing LCs,” said Muhith adding, the board of directors was not supposed to be aware of the forgery.
Senior AL lawmaker Abul Jalil, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of a private bank, said the finance minister claimed that the money was given to Hall-Mark without the knowledge of the board of directors.
“I am involved with a bank. I know that it is not possible without the approval of the board of directors,” mentioned Jalil.
Criticising Muhith's remarks, he questioned, “How much money needs to be looted to term it a big amount?”
People, he said, have reacted sharply to the incident and it would bring negative results for the grand alliance in the next parliamentary polls.
AL legislator Tofail Ahmed said the board of directors of the Sonali Bank cannot avoid their responsibilities in the matter.
Tenure of the chairmen of six state banks has been extended and the chairman of the Sonali Bank has been asked to continue in his post until further order, he mentioned. “The chairman should have been removed and the board of directors should be dissolved.”
Tofail also questioned why the general manager and two deputy general managers of the bank were not suspended instead of making them officers on special duty (OSDs).
AL MP Abdul Matin Khasru inquired why the ministry took such a long time to take action although the Bangladesh Bank had informed it about the scam in 2010. “Why have the persons involved in the forgery not yet been arrested?"
Since the Sonali Bank is a state-owned bank, the government is involved in its activities, he added.
Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque criticised the finance ministry for making the bank's officials OSDs. He demanded the government probe the matter with neutral persons.
Taking the floor again, Muhith said he believed that neither any member of the government nor any official of his ministry was involved in the scam.
Defending his ministry's action, he said they did not dissolve the present board of directors of the Sonali Bank for the sake of proper investigation.
The high officials were made OSDs to make sure that they could not influence the investigation, he added.
MUHITH ADVISED TO TALK LESS
Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said he has been advised to refrain from making any speech or comment that might “embarrass” the government.
"I have been advised to talk less. So I will finish my speech quickly," he said during his seven-minute speech at the launching of BD Venture Ltd at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
After the event, he did not even talk to newsmen waiting outside the venue.