DeskReport
Sonali, Agrani, Janata and Rupali Banks have given supernumerary promotions to 7215 officers.
It is claimed that the approval of the Financial Institutions Department was not taken for this promotion.
After showing the reasons to the bank MDs, the Financial Institutions Department has started an investigation into the matter.
State-owned Sonali, Agrani, Janata and Rupali Banks 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 have been promoted are in fear of losing their titles and privileges.
Sources from these four state-owned banks have informed that these promoted officials are already getting the privileges and privileges of their new positions. As per the Sonali Bank tradition, at least 200 officials of the rank of Assistant General Manager (AGM) have been given car facilities. And Agrani, Rupali and Janata Banks are continuing their efforts to provide car facilities. Now, if any irregularities are proven in the promotion during the FID investigation, then the promoted officials may lose the newly obtained privileges. 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 Ajker Patrika that they were deprived of promotions during the Awami League era. Their promotions were held up with various titles. 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 four state-owned banks.
It is learned that the investigation committee collected information about 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 about 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 posts in these four government banks. It was done at will, 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 order from there. Earlier, the managing directors (MDs) of these four banks were given a show cause notice regarding the promotion outside the rules. The expected response was not received there. Therefore, a new investigation is being conducted.
When asked, Afroza Akhter Riba, member secretary of the investigation committee, said that permission was not taken from the Financial Institutions Department for such promotions in the 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 all this. Action will be taken later based on that report.
According to the information of the banks, Sonali Bank has given super numerary 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 super numerary promotions, Sonali Bank MD 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 super numerary posts in accordance with 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 given in accordance with the rules. Basically, to eliminate discrimination among officials and meet the demands of those deprived of promotion, promotions have been given on merit and supernumerary basis. 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 deprived of promotion were given promotions. 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.’
