Finance minister AMA Muhith yesterday expressed his resentment over the fact that he has not been able to take steps against all those involved in the Sonali Bank and Basic Bank scams.
He blamed members of his own party, ruling Awami League, during a cut motion, and said they support the culprits involved in the scams involving the two banks.  “I have taken some steps against the culprits—a deputy director has been sent to jail. I tried to take the same step against someone, but some of our party members supported them. That made me very angry,” he said.
He said a new board of directors has been formed for Basic Bank, which is investigating the scam now. He also said necessary action will be taken after receiving the board’s probe report.
“Some directors who are involved in this scam belong to our party. I cannot send them to jail at any cost as our party’s people have given them shelter,” he added.
His allegations came against the backdrop of BNP’s claim that AL leaders were involved in the Tk 26-billion scam, Bangladesh’s biggest-ever loan scandal.
A central bank audit revealed that a little over Tk 36 billion was taken as loans by five firms, including Hall-Mark Group, from different branches of Sonali Bank, in violation of rules.
The Anti Corruption Commission launched a probe into the allegations of forgery of loans valued at Tk. 3,500 crore from Hotel Ruposhi Bangla branch of Sonali Bank in 2010–2012.
Of the amount, managing director of Hall-Mark Group, Tanvir Ahmad, took Tk 2,500 crore from this branch.
Cases have been filed against 13 officials of that branch, Muhith said. Of them, AKM Azizur Rahman—the then manager of that branch—has died in jail, and the rest of the accused are now fugitives.
“There is a lacuna in Sonali and Basic Banks—we have taken initiatives regarding the lacuna,” Muhith said.
About the punishment of the bank scam accused, the finance minister said, “Earlier, nobody dared to touch them. I have sent them to jail.”