Some corrupted owners of banks, an anti-liberation group in the central bank and a few higher government officials are allegedly trying to save Bangladesh Bank's Governor Fazle Kabir from actions while High Court has issued an order to the authorities concerned to submit a report within thirty days about the distortion of history and defamation of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a book on the central bank.
Bangladesh Bank's Publicity and Publications Department has been instructed to give opinions about the offensive instance of degrading Bangabandhu's stature in the book Bangladesh Banker Itihash (Bangladesh Bank's History). Reliable sources have informed that the bank owners who have plundered enormous sums of money from different banks during last three years have packed hands with Fazle Kabir to protect him and to keep him in the top post of Bangladesh Bank.
Fazle Kabir has reportedly aided these financial perpetrators to siphon away mammoth amounts of money under cover of loans. For this reason an immoral flock of financial fraudsters who are owners of some private banks do not want Fazle Kabir to quit Bangladesh Bank.
Relevant sources have stated that constant lobbying with the government's higher-ups is going on to keep Fazle Kabir in the highest echelon of the central bank.
Professor Dr. Abul Barakat, President, Bangladesh Economics Association has said, "High Court has in the meantime given directives to examine the allegations about the book on Bangladesh Bank's history. However, those who are trying to safeguard the Governor want to destabilize the country's banking sector and to keep on plundering money from banks."
The book was published in December 2017. It was unveiled on 25th March 2018. A committee was formed to review the book on 16 September 2018 following a report published in Daily Asian Age titled "Bangabandhu ignored in BB history book". By this time a lot of copies of the book were distributed to readers. Professor Dr. Abul Barakat further said, "It is not at all clear why the Governor did not retrieve the distributed copies during such a long gap. It is a sign of the Governor's indifference and irresponsibility."
It may be added that High Court directed finance secretary, home secretary, liberation war affairs secretary, Bangladesh Bank's Governor, executive director and general manager Abul Kalam Azad on 2nd October to submit their report within four weeks following a writ petition over this book lodged by Dr. Kazi Ertaza Hassan, Chairman, Bangladesh Human Rights Development Commission.
Dr. Kazi Ertaza Hassan has told The Asian Age that he received some threatening phone calls from unidentified people asking him to withdraw his writ petition over Bangladesh Banker Itihash and also offering him financial baits.
The book Bangladesh Banker Itihash does not contain any picture of Bangabandhu but it includes photographs of former Pakistani President Ayub Khan and East Pakistan's governor Monayem Khan.
Professor Emeritus Dr. AK Azad Chowdhury, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and ex Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) said to The Asian Age, "I was shocked to know that Bangladesh Bank's history book does not contain Bangabandhu's pictures. Very strong measures should be taken against the people who excluded Bangabandhu's photographs and roles from the book."
Professor Dr. Syed Anwar Hussain, Department of History, Dhaka University told The Asian Age, "Bangladesh cannot be imagined without Bangabandhu. I am puzzled how the book on Bangladesh Bank's history got published without Bangabandhu's pictures or contributions. The officials involved with the book's publication should be prosecuted immediately so that such things do not happen again."
Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said to The Asian Age, "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the architect of Bangladesh. Excluding his photograph and references from Bangladesh Bank's history is totally unacceptable. It should be deciphered how it happened and necessary actions should be initiated without delay."
Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman told The Asian Age that as Bangladesh means Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it was mandatory to include the name and role of Father of the Nation in the book.
If the BB officials concerned remained alert, such grave mistake wouldn't happen. Besides, they should have coordinated with editorial and advisory board members and taken their signatures on the manuscript. To mention, the book was launched after four months of its publication, the mistake could be corrected within such time.
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