Grim allegations and controversies have emerged about Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah, Secretary of Financial Institutions Division (FID) under the Finance Ministry of Bangladesh government. Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah joined FID as the institution’s Secretary on 28 August 2021 while he is supposed to retire on 19 May 2024. He belongs to Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) 10th batch (Administration Cadre).
Allegedly Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah was closely allied with Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat-E-Islami during his academic and professional life. Financial sources have informed that he has placed officials belonging to anti-liberation wings in higher posts in the financial sector whereas officials believing in the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 were cornered. Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah is blamed for lack of transparency in appointing directors in state-owned banks which has plunged these banks into different woes, mismanagement, corruption and irregularities.
Economists and financial scholars have again and again have blamed Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah for the severe catastrophes and scams that took place in state-owned banks during last couple of years including Agrani Bank Limited. Murshedul Kabir, Managing Director of Agrani Bank Limited was appointed in the bank in August 2022 and allegations show that Murshedul Kabir in unholy alliance with Agrani Bank’s an ex director of Agrani Bank has devastated this bank whereas Agrani Bank was a profitable organization once upon a time but now this bank’s status has worsened alarmingly.
Recently the FID Secretary did not pay heed to a particular order issued by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Being satisfied with his competence, integrity, dedication and dynamism, the Prime Minister decided to reappoint Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam in the BSEC Chairman post. A summary to this end was sent to the Prime Minister on 31 March 2024 which was signed by the Prime Minister on 4 April 2024 (Reference No: 53.00.0000.421.11.001.24.13) But it is surprising and shocking that the Financial Institutions Division has not yet issued any gazette notification about this order from the Prime Minister till today and thus the audacity of Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah has angered patriotic and loyal government high-ups.
It may be added that Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam was reelected vice-chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in February 2024 defeating the chief of Chinese stock exchange.
Some senior bureaucrats have told The Asian Age on condition of anonymity that Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah could have been made an OSD (officer on special duty) if it happened in any other country.
Reportedly Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah had a desire to get hold of a top post in BSEC but he failed to do so. When asked about the gazette notification, Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah said that he works in his own nature and he is serious about his job.
A top intelligence official told The Asian Age that he wonders how the Financial Institutions Division’s Secretary dared to hold up the gazette notification on a directive signed by the Prime Minister herself. It may hurt and annoy the Prime Minister. Financial experts and former secretaries have said that a special order should be issued to find out who backs up this vicious gang that disregards the Prime Minister’s instructions. Moreover, there are complaints from certain quarters that Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah is instigating anti-government propaganda in stock markets.
Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah has reportedly appointed unskilled, controversial and inexperienced people in higher posts in several state-owned banks which is why these banks are now in a tattered condition. Political sources have stated that Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah’s family is very much submissive to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and campaigned for BNP during the 2001 election. Furthermore, Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah had close ties with Begum Khaleda Zia’s younger brother Sayeed Iskander reportedly. Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah hails from Khaleda Zia’s electoral area in Feni.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque told The Asian Age that bureaucrats and government employees are ethically and professionally under obligations to carry out orders from the Prime Minister without delay. If anything opposite happens, it should be properly investigated, AKM Mozammel Haque further said.
Former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder told The Asian Age that government officials are appointed in order to cooperate with the implementation of all the directives of the head of the government. If any government official does not do so, he or she violates professional ethics.
Joint General Secretary of Awami League Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working tirelessly for the all out development of Bangladesh for last fifteen years. Sheikh Hasina has transformed Bangladesh into a development role model. It is the noble duty of all government officials to obey the orders of the government and to make the best of their efforts to bring about more socio-economic advancement in Bangladesh under the firm leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
The Asian Age also called and sent texts to Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Finance State Minister Waseqa Ayesha Khan and Finance Secretary Dr. Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder for their comments but they could not be reached over phone.
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