।। আলীমুজ্জামান হারুন ।।
অতিরিক্ত পুলিশ পাহারায় চলছে ইসলামী ব্যাংক। নতুন চেয়ারম্যান নিয়োগ নিয়ে প্রধান কার্যালয়ে টানটান উত্তেজনা বিরাজ করছে । ব্যাংকের পরিচালনা পর্ষদকে সম্পূর্ন জামায়াতী করনের লক্ষ্যে এই উত্তেজনা ছড়িয়েছে ।

গত বহস্পতিবার ব্যাংকটির প্রধান কার্যালয়ের সামনে ভিন্ন ব্যানারে জামায়াত পন্থী কর্মকর্তারা মিছিল করেছে । পাল্টা মিছিলও হয়েছে সেখানে । জামায়াত পন্থীরা বলছে, তাদের কথায় ইসলামী ব্যাংক চলবে ।

বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক বলছে , যোগ্যতার ভিত্তিতে চেয়ারম্যান নিয়োগ দেয়া হবে। সেক্ষেত্রে জামায়াত পন্থীরা বলছে , জামায়াতের সাথে সম্পৃক্ত এমন লোককে চেয়ারম্যান করতে হবে।

বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের নমিনি ড. জোবায়দুর রহমান একজন বাম ঘরনার লোক । তার অর্থনীতির উপর ব্যাপক পান্ডিত্য রয়েছে । তবে শরিয়াহভিত্তিক ব্যাংকিংয়ে তার অভিজ্ঞতা না থাকায় তিনি নিয়োগের আগেই সমালোচনার মুখে পড়েন ।

বিষয়টি সুষ্ঠ নিস্পত্তির জন্য জামায়তের শীষ্য নেতা পর্যায়ে যোগ চলছে । প্রয়োজনে আরো দুজন জামায়াত পন্থীকে স্বতন্ত্র পরিচালক দেয়া হবে বলে বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের একটি সূত্র জানিয়েছে।

ইসলামী ব্যাংকের নতুন চেয়ারম্যান অধ্যাপক জোবায়দুর রহমান ?

জানা যায়, গত ৩ জুলাই বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের ব্যাংকিং প্রবিধি ও নীতি বিভাগের (বিআরপিডি) দায়িত্বপ্রাপ্ত ডেপুটি গভর্নর ড. মো. কবির আহাম্মদ ইসলামী ব্যাংকের চেয়ারম্যান ওবায়েদ উল্লাহ আল মাসুদকে জরুরি ভিত্তিতে ডেকে পাঠান। ওই সময় তাঁকে পদত্যাগ করতে বলা হয়। ব্যাংকটির স্বতন্ত্র পরিচালক অধ্যাপক জোবায়দুর রহমানকে চেয়ারম্যান করা হবে এমন আভাস দেয়া হয় ।

ইসলামী ব্যাংকের চেয়ারম্যান ওবায়েদ উল্লাহ আল মাসুদের পদত্যাগপত্র গ্রহণ করেছেন বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের গভর্নর ড আহসান এইচ মনসুর। বৃহস্পতিবার পত্যাগপত্র গ্রহণের চিঠি ব্যাংকটির এমডিকে পাঠানো হয়েছে। তার আগে সকালে ব্যক্তিগত কারণ দেখিয়ে ব্যাংকটির বোর্ডে পদত্যাগপত্র জমা দেন বলে চিঠি থেকে জানা গেছে।

এদিকে নতুন করে চেয়ারম্যান পদে নিয়োগের জন্য ব্যাংকটির স্বতন্ত্র পরিচালক অধ্যাপক জোবায়দুর রহমানের কাগজপত্র বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক পর্যালোচনা করেছে। একজন নির্মোহ ,দানবীর, শিক্ষানুরাগী ধর্মপ্রান নামাজী মানুষ হিসাবে ড.
জোবায়দুর রহমানের কর্মময়জীবন এবং অবদান সম্পর্কে যা উল্লেখ রয়েছে--

Dr. Zubaidur Rahman is an experienced independent adviser to companies, governments and international organizations operating in developing and emerging market economies. His work includes strategic advice and change management process. He has deep expertise in country financial accountability arrangements, and corporate governance.
 His work as a Senior Staff Member of the World Bank mainly focused on institutional capacity building activities to assist Bank’s member countries in strengthening institutional underpinnings of financial transparency, accountability and governance in both private and public sectors of the economy. Results demonstrate that much of the work he has led has had deep and lasting impact on the development of the individual countries and regions.
 At the World Bank, Zubaidur has designed, developed, mainstreamed, and led a program of the standards and codes initiatve to support strengthening of the international financial architecture. In this regard, he has managed relationship with in-country stakeholders, conducted policy dialogue with high level government officials, developed partnership arrangements with internal and external parties, and played a leading role in taking steps for institutional capacity building. The objective of Standards and Codes initiative is to strengthen the underpinnings of national financial system.
 Zubaidur was the founder and managing director of a big-4 professional services firm offices in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He has demonstrated managerial capabiltieis with a record of accomplishments in leading the establishment and management of the Central Asia Practice of this firm.
 Previously, Zubaidur worked as a Professor of Accounting and Finance at the State University of New York; and Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Finance, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

EDUCATION

 Ph.D. (Finance), University of Manchester, England, 1982.
 M.Com. (Finance), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1973.
 B.Com. Honors, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1972.

GEOGRAPHIC WORK EXPERIENCE

Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Russia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tazikstan, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• ZNRF University of Management Sciences (a private University approved by the Government of Bangladesh, and University Grants Commission of Bangladesh), Vice Chancellor. (January 2018 -- )
• Independent Consultant: Worked as a Short-tem Consultant for a number of international organizations—e.g. the World Bank, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and KPMG International (February 2014 - December 2017).
• World Bank: Adviser (full time professional staff at World Bank headquarters), Core Operations Services, Africa Region, The World Bank (January 2013 - January 2015)
• World Bank: Adviser (full time professional staff at World Bank headquarters), Operations Risk Management Department/ Program Manager, Financial Management Unit, Operations Policy and Country Services Vice Presidency, The World Bank (October 2001 – December 2012)
• World Bank: Consultant, Operations Policy and Country Services Vice Presidency; and Controller’s Vice Presidency, The World Bank (April, 1999 – September 2001).
• Deloitte & Touche: Director, Deloitte & Touche, CIS, Moscow; and Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche, Central Asia, (June 1991 - March 1996).
• Deloitte & Touche: Adviser, Deloitte & Touche CIS (the then DRT-Inaudit, Moscow), (December 1990 - May 1991).
• State University of New York: Professor, School of Business and Economics, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, New York, USA, (1985 - 1991).
• State University of New York: Director, Center for the Study of Joint Ventures, State University of New York, USA, (1989 - 1991).
• University of Bocconi: Visiting Professor of International Accounting, University of Bocconi, Milan, Italy, (March - April 1988).
• Moscow State University: Visiting Scholar at the Moscow State University, under an exchange program between State University of New York and Moscow State University, (September – December, 1987).
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Education and Research in Accounting (CIERA), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (August – December, 1984).
• University of Dhaka: Associate Professor and Chairman (1983 - 1985), Assistant Professor (1978 - 1982), Lecturer (1975 - 1978), Department of Finance, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• The Bangladesh Times: Staff Reporter, The Bangladesh Times (a national English daily newspaper in Bangladesh), (1974 - 1975).

SELECTED ADVISORY SERVICES

 Financial governance reform: Indonesia – Consultant, Capital Market Supervisory Agency (BAPEPAM). Asian Development Bank project aimed at supporting financial governance reforms. (August – December 1999).
 East Asian financial crisis: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Republic of Korea, and the Philippines - Consultant to the UNCTAD for conducting a study to assess the role of corporate financial reporting deficiencies in the East Asian financial crisis. (April - October 1998).
 Private sector development:
 Uzbekistan - Project Director of the World Bank financed project "Privatization and Enterprises Reformation Institution Building Technical Assistance (main focus on attracting foreign investment)," (September 1995 - February 1996).
 l
 Kazakhstan - Led a project for asset valuation of Karaganda Steel Plant (the largest steel manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan), targeted for privatization. The project was sponsored by the State Property Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (March - November 1995).
 Kazakhstan - Led a project for asset valuation of Pavlodar Oil Refinery (one of the largest oil refineries in Kazakhstan), targeted for privatization. The project was sponsored by the State Property Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (May - December 1995).
 Kazakhstan - Project Manager, Small-Scale Privatization project of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The project was jointly sponsored by the World Bank and USAID. (June - December 1993).
 Russia – Actively participated in preparing a Russian state-owned enterprise for privatization. Performed the transformation of Russian accounting data and produced internationally comparable financial statements of KamAZ (largest truck manufacturer in Russia), for supporting the privatization initiative of Russian Government. (January - July 1992).
 Russia - Led the work of transforming Russian accounting data to prepare internationally comparable financial statements of AvtoVAZ (largest car manufacturer in Russia), for providing valuation support to a transaction involving direct foreign investment. (June - September 1991).
 Accountancy Reform in the Former Soviet Union
 Former Soviet Union – Worked as a Consultant of the United Nations Center for Transnational Corporations (UNCTC) to assist the Soviet Ministry of Finance in designing and developing a new Chart of Accountants for joint ventures, based on the principles of international accounting standards. Subsequently, the new Chart of Accountants was adopted by the Ministry of Finance of Russian Federation. As a prt of this consultancy, provided technical support to an International Taskforce established by the UNCTC for accountancy reform in the Soviet Union. (August 1988 – December 1990).
 Russia - Co-Director and Senior Consultant, European Community financed project to provide assistance to the International Advisory Board on Accounting and Auditing Reform in Russia. (January 1993 - December 1994).
 Azerbaijan - Consultant to the UNCTAD for providing training consulting services under the EU-TACIS financed project, “Strengthening the Audit Capacity of the Azerbaijan Chamber of Auditors and Preparing Future Insolvency Practitioners.” (September 1997 – November 1998).
 Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan - Co-Director and Senior Consultant, European Community financed project to provide assistance for accounting and auditing reform. (October 1993 - February 1996).
 Financial sector development:
 Kazakhstan - Project Director of the World Bank financed project for carrying out an in-depth financial and operational diagnostic study of two large commercial banks targeted for restructuring (Turanbank and Kazdorbank). (September 1994 - April 1995).
 Uzbekistan - Project Director of the World Bank financed project for carrying out an in-depth financial and operational diagnostic study of the Savings Bank of Uzbekistan targeted for restructuring. (July - December 1995).
 Uzbekistan - Led a project for preparing feasibility study of a joint venture universal bank in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Major joint venture partners are: Daewoo Securities of Korea, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and National Bank for Foreign Economic Activities of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (November 1995 - February 1996).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

 “Accounting Standards in the East Asian Region” Presentation to the Second OECD/World Bank Asian Corporate Governance Roundtable on “The Role of Disclosure in Strengthening Corporate Governance and Accountability”, May 31 – June 2, 2000, Hong Kong.
 “The Role of Accounting in East Asian Financial Crisis: Lessons Learned?” Transnational Corporations, Volume 7, Number 3, December 1998, pp. 1 - 52.
 “The Evolution of Accounting in the Former Soviet Union: Historical Perspective and Global Influences,” The New Europe: Recent Political and Economic Implications for Accountants and Accounting, Center for International Education and Research in Accounting, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994, pp. 131-148; (with L.H. Radebaugh and T.B. Krylova).
 “International Dimensions of Accounting and Reporting: A Review,” Rivista Internazionale Di Scienze Economiche E Commerciali (International Review of Economics and Business, printed in Italy), Vol. 39 (1992), No. 2, pp. 175-192.
 “East-West Accounting Differences and the Accounting Problems Encountered by the Western Partners of Soviet Joint Ventures,” Economic Reform in the Soviet Union: Some Guidelines for Business, Occasional Paper of LIMI and Euromobiliare, Milan (Italy), March 1991, pp. 39-72.
 “The Local Value Added Statement: A Reporting Requirement for Multinationals in Developing Host Countries,” The International Journal of Accounting, (1990) 25, pp. 87-98.
 “Financial Reporting by Multinational Enterprises: Accounting Policy Choice in a Developing Country,” Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, April 1988, pp. 1-14; (with Robert W. Scapens).
 “Accounting Reports and Performance Measurement of Multinational Enterprises in Less Developed Countries,” Management International Review, Vol. 27, No. 2, 1987, pp. 35-44.
 “Transfer Pricing by Multinationals: Some Evidence from Bangladesh,” Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, Vol. 13, No. 3, Autumn 1986, pp. 383-391; (with Robert W. Scapens).
 “International Accounting Standards and Transnational Corporations,” Rivista Internazionale Di Scienze Economiche E Commerciali (International Review of Economics and Business, printed in Italy), Vol. 33 (1986), No. 6-7, pp. 697-714; (with Joseph E. Finnerty).
 “Transfer Pricing in Multinational Enterprises,” Journal of Management, Business and Economics (printed in Bangladesh), Vol. 11, No. 2, 1985, pp. 126-150.
 “The Paradox of Low Profitability of Multinationals in Less Developed Countries - a Case Study of Bangladesh,” Journal of Management, Business and Economics (printed in Bangladesh), Vol. 10, No. 1, 1984, pp. 22-43.
 “Maximization of Global Interests: Ultimate Motivation for Foreign Investments by Transnational Corporations,” Management International Review, Vol. 23, No. 4, 1983, pp. 4-13.
 “Accounting Policy Choice and Profit Manipulation: Multinational Enterprises’ Behavior in Bangladesh,” Dhaka University Studies (Part-C), Vol. IV, No. 1, June 1983, pp. 1-20.
 “Private Investment Criteria for Public Investment Decision,” Proceedings of the Third International Meeting of North American Economics and Finance Association, held in Mexico City, June 26-28, 1985; published by the Association; (with Joseph E. Finnerty).
 “Multinational Enterprises in a Peripheral Economy: The Case of Bangladesh,” Proceedings of the International Meeting of Academy of International Business, held in Singapore, June 11-16, 1984; published by School of Management, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
 “Industrial Finance Policy in Bangladesh,” (mimeo), Investment Incentive Study Unit, Trade and Industrial Policy Reform Program, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 1985; (with Bernard Wasow).
 Book published in Moscow (in Russian language): Accounting in a Market Economy, Infra-M. Publishers, Moscow, Russia, 1996 (with Professor Anatoly D. Sheremet).
 Prepared research-based publications: Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) on behalf of World Bank, in more than sixty countries in different parts of the world. These publications can be found at the following web address: www.worldbank.org/ifa/ROSC.aa.html.

পাশাপাশি ইসলামী ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক (চলতি দায়িত্ব) হিসেবে থাকা মো. ওমর ফারুক খানকে পূর্ণাঙ্গ এমডি করার বিষয়টি কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকে চলমান রয়েছে বলে সূত্র জানিয়েছে।

ব্যাংকটির অতিরিক্ত এমডি মো. ওমর ফারুক খানকে পূর্ণাঙ্গ এমডি করার জন্য ইসলামী ব্যাংকের বোর্ড সুপারিশ করেছে। যাকে চলতি সপ্তাহে নিয়ম অনুযায়ী সাক্ষাতকারের জন্য ডাকা হবে।

ইসলামী ব্যাংক সূত্র জানিয়েছে, গত ১০ জুলাই ইসলামী ব্যাংকের বোর্ড সভায় এম ফারুককে এমডি হিসাবে চুড়ান্ত করা হয় ।