Bangladesh’s six major state-owned banks Sonali, Janata, Agrani, Rupali, BASIC and Bangladesh Development Bank have been operating without managing directors for nearly a month.

The finance ministry sent a letter on September 19, officially cancelling the contracts of the MDs for these banks.

In response, the chairmen of the banks have urged finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed to expedite the appointment of new MDs.

In a meeting on Monday, Sonali Bank chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Agrani Bank chairman Syed Abu Nasser Bakhtiar Ahmed and Rupali Bank chairman Nazrul Huda discussed with finance adviser about the urgent need for leadership in the banks and stressed the importance of filling the vacant MD positions as soon as possible.

A chairman who attended the meeting confirmed that they had formally requested appointments of new MD appointments and the finance adviser assured them that the matter would be reviewed.