During a general discussion in the second (budget) session of the 13th National Parliament, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed made a series of allegations concerning banking irregularities, loan disbursements, and the use of institutional funds. The session was held on Tuesday, 9 June.
The minister stated that the Nabil Group had taken a loan of 700 crore taka from Islami Bank under the letter of credit (LC) facility, which was not subsequently repaid. According to his remarks, goods imported under this arrangement were sold, but the proceeds were not returned to the bank. He further said that there are claims suggesting that the funds were diverted to an election-related fund and used in the establishment of a television channel. He also noted that the bank’s overall liability stands at 16,000 crore taka.
In addition, the Home Minister referred to another case involving Latabur Group, stating that a loan of 40 crore taka was approved prior to the election without clearance from the head office, and that there has been no satisfactory explanation regarding its utilisation. He added that these matters are expected to be subject to investigation.
He also raised concerns regarding alleged irregularities in the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. According to his statement, CSR allocations were reportedly misused for purchasing airline tickets for travel between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar. He said that such matters have already been reported in the media and would also be investigated.
Regarding Islami Bank’s Rural Development Scheme (RDS), the minister referred to it as a flagship initiative of the bank, originally based on a rural development model. He alleged that financial distributions were made under this scheme ahead of elections. He stated that around 10,000 taka was given to many women beneficiaries and claimed that political messaging was attached to these disbursements.
He further mentioned that beneficiaries were told that the funds were linked to religious obligations and electoral support, and that additional payments were promised. He also alleged that assurances were given suggesting that voting for a particular symbol would guarantee religious rewards. These statements were made as part of his broader concerns regarding the use of financial programmes during election periods.
According to the minister, a total of 22,000 crore taka has been distributed through the RDS project, with 11,000 crore taka allocated earlier and an additional 11,000 crore taka disbursed after 5 August, which he linked to electoral considerations.
Summary of Key Financial Figures Mentioned
| Category / Case | Amount (Taka) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nabil Group LC loan | 700 crore | Alleged non-repayment after import sales |
| Bank overall liability | 16,000 crore | Stated total exposure |
| Latabur Group loan | 40 crore | Approved before election without head office clearance |
| RDS total distribution | 22,000 crore | Rural Development Scheme funding |
| RDS earlier allocation | 11,000 crore | First phase distribution |
| RDS later allocation | 11,000 crore | Post-5 August distribution |
| Alleged beneficiary payment | 10,000 per person | Reported distribution to women beneficiaries |
The minister concluded that all the issues raised, including loan irregularities, CSR fund utilisation, and election-related financial allegations, would be subjected to formal investigation.