Atiur Rahman, who tendered his resignation as Bangladesh Bank governor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday, said he made the decision out of moral responsibility over the $101 million cyber-heist at the central bank.
“I have resigned willingly out of moral responsibility,” said the former governor while addressing a press briefing at his Gulshan residence yesterday afternoon, a few hours after he had quit his job.
He said: “I do not want my institution and my country to face any controversy over the fund heist issue, so I decided to quit. I think my resignation will help restore our image.”
He urged the government to mete out capital punishment to those involved in the heist after a thorough investigation.
“The prime minister was in tears while receiving my resignation,” Atiur said in an emotion-choked voice.
Atiur faced the media yesterday for the first time after the biggest ever cyber-heist in Bangladesh’s history. Although he had come to the briefing with a smiling face sporting a panjabi, soon he became very emotional.
During the entire time of briefing he looked very sad and his voice broke several times and he continuously fought back his tears while speaking.
“I have come to meet all of you to take farewell formally,” he said as he began the briefing.
He explained that the heist had been reported to the authorities concerned late as the central bank itself was puzzled over the issue.
Terming the cyber-theft a terrorist attack, he said the attack was very much innovative and complex. It was like an earthquake and Bangladesh Bank could not identify which direction the quake was approaching from.
“Perplexed at what was really going on, what could we possibly report to the Finance Ministry?” he said.
“The incident will be a good lesson for the banking sector just as ever cyber-heist in Bangladesh’s history. Although he had come to the briefing with a smiling face sporting a panjabi, soon he became very emotional.
During the entire time of briefing he looked very sad and his voice broke several times and he continuously fought back his tears while speaking.
“I have come to meet all of you to take farewell formally,” he said as he began the briefing.
He explained that the heist had been reported to the authorities concerned late as the central bank itself was puzzled over the issue.
Terming the cyber-theft a terrorist attack, he said the attack was very much innovative and complex. It was like an earthquake and Bangladesh Bank could not identify which direction the quake was approaching from.
“Perplexed at what was really going on, what could we possibly report to the Finance Ministry?” he said.
“The incident will be a good lesson for the banking sector just as the Rana Plaza disaster brought a massive transformation in the garment sector,” said Atiur.
“I have left the office as a hero,” he said, adding that he would now return to teaching.
Expressing sorrow, the former governor said: “I am the man who took the central bank’s reserve to over $28 billion from $6bn gradually by working hard, and now that reserve was stolen due to my negligence!” He wondered: “Is it believable?”
There was no need to make the incident a big issue, he said.
“I am grateful to the finance minister as he has helped me on different issues during my tenure,” the governor said.
Atiur left hastily after the briefing.
Atiur served Bangladesh Bank as its governor since 2009 with his tenure extended twice. The tenure was supposed to end on August 2 this year.
He was the first governor in Bangladesh Bank’s history who resigned in the face of allegations.
Atiur drew flak from the government for not informing it about the issue of the cyber-theft of $101m from the central bank’s reserve account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, USA in more than one month.
Atiur had last attended office on March 9 before he left the country for attending a three-day conference on March 11-13 in New Delhi, India.
He returned home on March 14. Before going to his office yesterday he had gone to the Prime Minister’s Office to tender his resignation.
