State-owned Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank and Rupali Bank have given supernumerary promotions to 7,215 officials who were deprived during the previous government’s tenure. The Financial Institutions Department (FID) has now started an investigation into the promotion of so many officials at once. The bankers who were promoted are in fear of losing their titles and privileges.
Sources from these four state-owned banks have informed that these promoted officers are already getting the benefits of their new positions, including promotions. Sonali Bank has provided car facilities to at least 200 officers of the rank of Assistant General Manager (AGM) as per the tradition. And Agrani, Rupali and Janata Bank are continuing their efforts to provide car facilities. Now, if any irregularities are proven in the promotion during the FID investigation, then the promoted officers may lose the newly received benefits. Due to this, it is learnt that there is panic and anger among the bankers concerned.
Some officials who were promoted to supernumerary positions told Daily Industry that they were deprived of promotions during the Awami League regime. Their promotions were held up with various labels. After the mass uprising in August, administration and police officials were promoted. Recently, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced additional supernumerary promotions in the health sector .
Such promotions are also given in private banks. But a sinister group is interfering in the supernumerary promotions of the four state-owned banks.
It is learnt that the investigation committee collected information on these supernumerary officers from the banks on Tuesday in continuation of the investigation. Earlier, on May 7, in a letter signed by the member secretary of the investigation committee, Afroza Akhter Riba, the four government banks were asked to provide information on the promoted officers to the investigation agency by May 13. On the government’s orders, high-ranking officials of Sonali, Agrani, Janata and Rupali Banks appeared in person on Tuesday and submitted necessary documents along with explanations on behalf of their respective banks.
A member of the investigation committee, on condition of anonymity, said that no approval was taken from the Financial Institutions Department for the promotion of supernumerary officers to these posts in the four government banks. It was done arbitrarily, which is a complete violation of rules and regulations. There are allegations of many irregularities in this. After the matter reached the office of the Chief Advisor, an investigation committee was formed on the orders from there. Earlier, the managing directors (MDs) of these four banks were given show cause notices regarding the irregular promotions. The expected response was not received there. Therefore, a fresh investigation is being conducted.
When asked, member secretary of the investigation committee, Afroza Akter Riba, said that permission from the Financial Institutions Department was not taken for such promotions in four government banks. The committee has collected information on 7,215 officials by writing to the banks for the sake of investigation. A report will be prepared after verifying these. Action will be taken later based on that report.
According to the banks’ information, Sonali Bank has given supernumerary promotions to 2,200 people, Agrani Bank to 3,084 people and Rupali Bank to 3,209 people. Janata Bank has given promotions to 579 people. These promotions are mainly given to the posts of Deputy General Manager (DGM), Assistant General Manager (AGM), Senior Principal Officer (SPO), Principal Officer (PO) and Senior Officer (SO).
When asked about the promotion of super numerary, Sonali Bank Managing Director Md. Shawkat Ali Khan said, “Banking is an important sector. Everyone’s contribution has to be given importance here. If someone is deprived, morale is lost. Yet many were deprived. Those deprived officers have been promoted to the super numerary position as per the rules. The additional cost for this is very low, which will not have any impact on the bank; rather, the bank is doing better day by day due to the encouragement.”
Muslim Chowdhury, chairman of the board of directors of Sonali Bank, said, “Promotions have been made in accordance with the rules. Basically, promotions have been made on merit and supernumerary basis to eliminate discrimination among officers and meet the demands of those deprived of promotion. It has been done according to specific skills and qualifications. The Financial Institutions Department has issued a show-cause notice. The notice is embarrassing.”
Agrani Bank Chairman Syed Abu Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed said, “During the previous government, those who were deprived of promotion were promoted. But there is a rule for promotion. If promotions are given indiscriminately, those who do good work are discouraged. Keeping this in mind, promotions are given according to the rules.”
