BAB gets new leaders after 17 years

From left: New Bangladesh Association of Banks Chairman Abdul Hai Sarker, Vice-Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mannan and Vice-Chairman Romo Rouf Chowdury

The Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) on Monday formed an interim three-member executive committee to lead the organisation for about six months until the next organisational election, ending the 17-year reign of pro-Awami League bankers.

At the top BAB post, Dhaka Bank Chairman Abdul Hai Sarker replaces former EXIM Bank Chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder, who was allied with the autocratic Awami League government.

It is worth noting that the student-nominated interim government is overseeing a shakeup in the country’s banking leadership, in the wake of Awami League government’s fall.

Nazrul Islam assumed the role of BAB chairman in 2008 and held the post for 17 years, even though the organisation’s charter limits the tenure to two years. The interim government removed him from his post at EXIM Bank, effectively annulling his term at BAB.

Two other pro-Awami League bankers held the post of BAB vice chairmen, also violating the term rule.

The two vice chairmen, alleged money launderer S Alam’s brother Abdus Samad Labu and Awami League leader Saifuzzaman Chowhdury’s brother Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, also lost their posts.

Abdus Samad Labu was the former chairman of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, while Anisuzzaman Chowhdury was a former vice-chairman of United Commercial Bank.

They would be replaced by First Security Islami Bank Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mannan and Bank Asia Chairman Romo Rouf Chowdury.

The next elections at BAB would be held six months later, it was decided in the organisation’s Monday meeting.