ACC finds no lockers for 25 BB officials under scrutiny

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) discovered that 25 current and former officials of the Bangladesh Bank, including ex-Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, do not possess any locker facilities at the bank’s Motijheel branch. 

This revelation came after a thorough search of the locker register on Sunday (February 9) by an ACC team, accompanied by Dhaka Executive Magistrate Mehdi Hasan and Bangladesh Bank officials.  

The investigation was prompted by numerous complaints alleging that these officials might have stored illicit assets or documents in bank lockers. However, the register confirmed that none of the 25 individuals had locker facilities in their names.  

ACC Director Kazi Mohammad Sayemuzzaman, who led the 8-member team, stated that the search was conducted based on court orders and complaints. He emphasized that the ACC would continue to investigate other officials if evidence emerges, regardless of their influence or position.  

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the findings, noting that the locker register was checked as per court instructions. He assured that if future orders require opening lockers of other officials, the bank would comply.  

The ACC’s recent actions follow a January 26 operation where they searched the locker of former Deputy Governor SK Sur, uncovering assets worth approximately Tk 5 crore. These assets are now in the custody of Bangladesh Bank.  

While 313 current and former officials, mostly women, have locker facilities for storing keys to vaults and personal documents, the 25 officials under scrutiny were found to have no such arrangements. The ACC’s investigation continues as it seeks to address allegations of corruption within the central bank.