BB trims executive director posts despite discontent

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has begun reducing the number of executive director posts -- a senior management position that often leads to top-level contractual government appointments -- in phases, causing dissatisfaction among officials.

The number of posts has been cut from around 44 to 37, and the high authority of the banking regulator plans to reduce it further to about 26, according to central bank officials who requested anonymity.

The issue was primarily discussed at a January public programme attended by former finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed as chief guest and BB Governor Ahsan H Mansur as special guest.

On the occasion, Ahmed said there were too many executive directors at the central bank and called for a reduction. The governor agreed, saying the number of executive directors would be gradually reduced.

When contacted, Mansur told The Daily Star that executive director posts have increased significantly.

“In 1991, there were only three executive directors. During the tenure of Salehuddin Ahmed as governor (May 2005-April 2009), there were five. Now there are 44 -- several times higher than before,” he said.

He added that India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, has only 14 executive directors, even though its banking sector is much larger.

Mansur said former governors increased the posts to satisfy officials, adding that the position is equivalent to a secretary-level post.

“Those appointed should have sufficient skills and strong personalities -- people whose words command attention,” he said.

“We will gradually reduce the number in a tolerable and manageable way, although it is a difficult task. Because of these measures, some officials have taken a stand against me. Promotions will take place, but they must follow a proper system,” he added.

OFFICIALS EXPRESS DISCONTENT

When the plan to reduce executive director posts spread, anger and dissatisfaction erupted among officials.

Robiul Islam (not his real name), an assistant director at the central bank, said he felt dejected after hearing the news.

“Every official like me dreams of being promoted to executive director at BB, a top-tier management position in a regular career. If the number of executive directors is reduced, promotion to that rank will become more difficult,” he told The Daily Star.

Aminul Islam (not his real name), a director at the central bank, said there is now a stalemate in new recruitment and promotions, indicating that the high authority has started implementing the plan to reduce executive director posts.

He acknowledged that executive director posts have increased in recent years, but said the banking sector’s workload has also grown with more departments and more banks.

“Therefore, the current number of executive directors is justified,” he said.

2,000 VACANCIES RAISE CONCERNS

Recently, the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council, a forum of central bank officials, sent a memorandum to the governor saying that many entry-level posts have remained vacant for a long time, but no recruitment is being made to fill them.

It said that while senior officials are retiring, hiring against vacant posts has been suspended. According to data as of December 2025, more than 2,000 officer-level posts remain vacant.

“As recruitment for the assistant director position remains halted, officials have expressed concern that the central bank may face a shortage of qualified manpower in the future to effectively carry out its operations,” the memorandum reads.

It added that existing vacancies across various departments are already creating obstacles to the smooth execution of routine functions.

Golam Mostafa Srabon, general secretary of the council, told The Daily Star that based on the number and proportion of Grade-1 positions in other government services and departments, the central bank should also introduce regular Grade-1 posts.

Instead, he said, steps have been taken to reduce executive director posts, which are equivalent to Grade-2 under the national pay scale. “This move would block the career progression of central bankers,” Srabon added.

GROWING WORKLOAD

At present, BB has more than 80 departments and projects, with several new departments created after the change in government in August 2024, including the Bank Resolution Department, the Islamic Banking Regulation and Policy Department, and the Money Laundering Prevention Department.

Each executive director currently oversees at least two departments. The central bank also has one office in each divisional city, and an executive director heads each of these offices.

Sirajul Islam, former executive director of BB, told The Daily Star that each executive director currently oversees four to five departments, creating significant workload pressure.

He said that reducing their number further would increase the burden on remaining officials and make it difficult to perform duties smoothly, leading to lower work efficiency. “Reducing the number of executive directors at BB would not be appropriate.”