Islamic Bank Chairman and Family Bank Accounts Summoned by BFIU

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has requested details of the bank accounts belonging to Obayed Ullah Al Masud, Chairman of Islami Bank, and his family members. This request was made in a letter sent to various banks yesterday, Monday (July 14). It's worth noting that Obayed Ullah Al Masud served as the Managing Director of state-owned Sonali Bank and Rupali Bank during the former Awami League government's tenure.

The accounts summoned by the BFIU include those of Obayed Ullah Al Masud, his wife Marjina Begum, two sons Junnun Safwan and Junaid Julakarnain Tian, and daughter Tasmiya Tarannum Nowmi.

The BFIU's letter to the banks instructs them to provide detailed information on all accounts operated in their names or in the names of any associated entities. All relevant documents for these accounts, such as account opening forms, transaction statements, KYC (Know Your Customer) information, lockers, savings certificates, cards, and gift cards, have been ordered to be sent to the BFIU.

Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 last year due to the student-people's uprising, bank accounts of various levels of Awami League leaders and benefiting businessmen have been frozen. The summoning of Obayed Ullah Al Masud's and his family members' accounts follows this trend.

After the fall of the Awami League government following the student-people's uprising, the Bangladesh Bank dissolved Islami Bank's board. Subsequently, Obayed Ullah Al Masud was appointed as an independent director and later assumed the role of Chairman.

A source indicates that the Bangladesh Bank is looking to appoint a new chairman for Islami Bank. Simultaneously, a faction associated with Islami Bank is also lobbying to install their own preferred candidate as chairman. The summoning of Obayed Ullah Al Masud's bank accounts comes amid this situation.