The government may appoint more than 30 directors for the state-owned commercial banks in a week, said a high official, in the wake of a call for a thorough top-level management change following the detection of forgeries.

The posts fell vacant as the holders completed their tenures on the 9th of this month, without renewal or extension of their jobs by the government.

After the meeting with the finance minister Monday, Banking Division secretary Shafiqur Rahman Patwari said the appointments will be made following the return of the Prime Minister from New York on 27th September.

The secretary said the Division would like to see the new directors as expert and efficient in banking.

Last month, the government, however, extended the tenure of the chairmen of six state-run banks, although there were questions about their performance.

Recently, the state-owned banks came under harsh criticisms after discoveries of several anomalies, including a stunning scam involving a Sonali Bank loan amounting to over Tk 35 billion given to a little-known company—Hallmark Group.

The tenures of Rupali Bank chairman Ahmed Al-Kabir, Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat, Agrani Bank chairman Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, BASIC Bank chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu and Ansar-VDP Development Bank chairman MA Taher have been extended for two more years.

But Sonali Bank Ltd chairman Quazi Baharul Islam has been asked to continue until further notice.

After assuming power, the present government constituted the boards of directors of these six public-sector banks.

News: Daily Sun/Bangladesh/26-Sep-12