Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into alleged large-scale irregularities and corruption involving recruitment, promotions, training, and home loan disbursement at state-owned Rupali Bank PLC. As part of the probe, the anti-graft agency has summoned 10 bank officials, including Mahmudul Hasan Tutul, a Senior Principal Officer and Personal Secretary (PS) to the Managing Director (MD).
According to ACC notices, the officials were asked to appear before the Commission’s headquarters on July 5 and July 6 to provide statements regarding the allegations. Mahmudul Hasan Tutul, who was summoned on July 6, previously served as the Liberation War Research Secretary of the central committee of the Bangabandhu Parishad of Rupali Bank Limited.
ACC sources said the investigation was initiated following allegations of widespread irregularities in the recruitment, promotion, training, and home loan distribution processes within the bank. To conduct the inquiry, the Commission formed a two-member investigation team led by Assistant Director (Banking) Mohammad Azgar Hossain, with Deputy Assistant Director Md. Yasin Molla serving as a member.
The notices state that the statements of the summoned officials are essential for ensuring a fair and comprehensive investigation. The ACC also requested the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rupali Bank to take the necessary steps to ensure the officials’ appearance before the Commission.
In 2014, Rupali Bank recruited 751 Officers and 401 Senior Officers. According to findings from a special commercial investigation, 62 of those recruits allegedly secured their jobs through forged documents, fake certificates, or by obtaining appointments without participating in the recruitment examinations.
The ACC has so far summoned 10 officials in two phases. On July 5, those called included Principal Officers Tapashi Roy, Tanvir Ahmed Chowdhury, Monir Hossain, Amrita Kumar Baruri,and Md. Akherul Walid.On July 6, the Commission summoned Sajib Sardar, Mahmudul Hasan Tutul, Aminul Islam Bulbul, Md. Alamgir Hossain, and Sammi Akte.
Investigators also found that many of the summoned officials held key positions in the central committee of the Bangabandhu Parishad of Rupali Bank Limited. These included organizational secretaries, cultural secretary, sports secretary, international secretary, and other leadership positions.
Bank insiders believe that political influence may have played a role in recruitment and promotion decisions during the period, with allegations of significant financial transactions and irregularities now falling under the ACC’s investigation.
The Commission has instructed the summoned officials to appear with the original copies of their academic certificates, National Identity Cards, recruitment application forms, admit cards, viva examination cards, and any quota-related certificates.
Responding to the allegations, Senior Principal Officer Mahmudul Hasan Tutul said all of his documents were genuine and that he had been recruited through the proper examination process.
“All of my documents are valid. I applied through the proper procedure, sat for the examination, and earned the job on merit. I also appeared in the viva examinations for the 33rd and 34th BCS and was selected as a non-cadre candidate. I do not know why these allegations have been raised. By the grace of Allah, I have nothing to worry about,” he said.
Repeated attempts to contact Rupali Bank Managing Director and CEO Kazi Md. Wahidul Islam for comment, including phone calls and text messages, were unsuccessful.
In a separate letter, the ACC also sought the academic certificates of 801 additional officers and senior officers recruited by the bank in 2014. The Commission requested copies of MCQ, written, and viva examination evaluation sheets, recruitment records, and any internal reports from Rupali Bank or Bangladesh Bank concerning forged or fake academic certificates.
The ACC has further requested the National ID numbers, passport details, and permanent and present addresses of the Managing Director, Chairman, and board members who were responsible for the 2014 recruitment process, along with board approvals at every stage and the complete list of successful candidates.
The ongoing investigation aims to determine whether the 2014 recruitment process at Rupali Bank was compromised by fraud, forged academic credentials, or other forms of corruption.
