Bank and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam was made an OSD yesterday as part of actions taken in connection with the cyber-heist of $101 million from Bangladesh Bank's reserve fund.
After a pre-budget meeting yesterday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith informed reporters that Aslam Alam had been made an OSD (officer on special duty) because his division was responsible for monitoring the central bank.
An official at the Bank and Financial Institutions Division alleged that Aslam was made a scapegoat.
The finance minister did not take any action against Atiur Rahman in seven days after he had come to learn about the hacking of Bangladesh Bank's reserve fund kept at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, USA.
But, when Aslam Alam initiated some actions – he went to Bangladesh Bank after returning from abroad on March 14 and inquired about the heist – he was made an OSD, said the official.
At a press briefing following his visit to the central bank, Aslam Alam said the stealing of $101 million exposed the faulty and weak IT systems management at Bangladesh Bank.
He also said the central bank should have informed its board and the Finance Ministry about the incident. The source at the Bank and Financial Institutions Division said governor Atiur Rahman tendered his resignation after the secretary had made his moves.
An officer of the 1982 special BCS batch, Aslam Alam was made the secretary of the Bank and Financial Institutions Division in November 2012.
After getting the responsibility, Aslam Alam streamlined the scam-hit state-run Sonali Bank and BASIC Bank, sources said.
Aslam Alam will go on retirement on June 30, 2019.