Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman tendered his resignation on Tuesday following the recent theft of $101 million from the BB account with the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Dr Rahman submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office, PMO, press secretary to the PM confirmed.
The PM accepted his resignation around 12:30pm, government high official sources said.
Dr Rahman addressed a press conference at his Gulshan residence around 3:15pm where he said that he submitted his resignation out of moral responsibility.
During the briefing he also cleared his stance over the heist and demanded proper investigation and punishment of the culprits involved in the heist incident.
Meanwhile, the government issued a press statement terming Dr Atiur's decision " a brave step".
In another development, the press briefing of Finance Minister AMA Muhith which was deferred at 2:30pm today was cancelled.
"I have decided to tender my resignation out of moral responsibility," Dr Rahman told the BBN at his Gulshan residence in Dhaka Tuesday morning before submitting his resignation.
The central bank of Bangladesh has able to recover nearly US$20 million from Sri Lanka out of $101 million taken away by cyber hackers from its foreign exchange reserve with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently.
Suspected Chinese-origin cybercriminals hacked in the forex reserves in the BB’s account with the US Federal Reserve Bank in New York on February 5.
Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is now working with its counterpart –the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines – actively to recover the rest of stolen fund, a central banker told the BBN earlier.
After his short briefing to the media, Dr Rahman left his Governor house in Gulshan to meet the PM at her official residence in Tejgaon.
"I have taken some time for the sake of investigation to inform the heist incident to the government. If I commit a mistake (taking time), then I seek my apology to the countrymen," Dr Rahman told journalists at his residence.
Dr Rahman who was on a four-day official visit to New Delhi returned home yesterday afternoon.
BBN/SSR/ANS