Bangladesh bank: Bangladesh Bank (BB) today dismissed reports published in various media outlets regarding a ban on the foreign travel of two of its officials, clarifying that their withdrawal from a Singapore-based training programme was based on administrative and personal grounds rather than any restrictive measures.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the central bank categorically rejected the claims that Director Liza Fahmida and Additional Director Kamrul Islam were barred from traveling due to their perceived professional associations. The clarification follows reports published on March 9 and 10, 2026, across several national dailies, television channels, and online news portals. These reports claimed that a ban had been imposed on the officials to prevent them from attending a programme titled ‘Strategic Thinking and Decision Making for Central Bank Leaders,’ scheduled to be held in Singapore from March 9 to 11, 2026.
The misleading reports alleged that the authorities intervened because of the officials’ proximity to the former Governor, specifically noting Kamrul Islam’s role as the PS to the former Governor. At the clarification, Bangladesh Bank mentioned that Liza Fahmida (Director) personally submitted an application to withdraw her name from the programme, citing personal and family reasons. Her request was subsequently reviewed and approved by the appropriate authorities.
Kamrul Islam (Additional Director), who served as the PS to the former Governor, was withdrawn following his transfer to a different department. As his current role is no longer relevant to the specific training programme in Singapore, his participation was deemed unnecessary for his current professional responsibilities.
The central bank expressed deep concern over the publication of such misinformation, stating that the false reports have caused significant damage to the personal, family, and institutional reputations of the officials involved. Bangladesh Bank emphasized that the dissemination of unverified claims undermines both the dignity of its professional staff and the integrity of the institution.
In light of these events, Bangladesh Bank has issued a formal request to all journalists and media organizations to verify the accuracy of any information with the relevant authorities before publication. This is essential to uphold professional ethics and ensure the public receives truthful information.