Bangladesh Bank has suspended the foreign travel of two officials, including the personal secretary (PS) to the former governor, following the sudden departure of Ahsan H Mansur.
The central bank issued a last-minute office order withdrawing additional director Md Kamrul Islam and director Liza Fahmida from a government training visit to Singapore.
According to Bangladesh Bank documents, the officials were part of a nine-member delegation scheduled to attend a programme titled “Strategic Thinking and Decision Making for Central Bank Leaders” from 9 to 11 March.
The Human Resources Department-2 had initially approved the trip on 10 February. The delegation included Liza Fahmida, Director of the Financial Sector Support and Strategic Planning Department, and Md Kamrul Islam, the former Governor’s PS and current Additional Director.
However, an office order signed by Nasima Sultana, Director of Human Resources Department-2, was issued on 8 March – just one day before the trip – staying their participation. Central bank sources claimed the duo was excluded due to their perceived proximity to the former Governor.
It was further alleged that Kamrul Islam had been included in the initial list despite not being directly involved with the programme’s core objectives.
This development follows a series of administrative changes after Ahsan H Mansur’s appointment as Governor was cancelled on 25 February. On the same day, Kamrul Islam was transferred from the Governor’s Secretariat to the bank’s Sadarghat office, followed by his removal from the foreign tour list.
While the two officials remain in the country, the other members of the delegation have already arrived in Singapore and are participating in the scheduled programme.
