The Bangladesh Bank is yet to confirm the purity of its reserve gold in the vault. The authenticity of the bullion in the bank vault came into question after a CIID investigation report was leaked to the media which found anomaly in the measurements of the seized gold. A central bank internal investigation also found a clerical mistake which resulted in the difference in the carat measurements. And gave rise to the general perception that a syndicate may have replaced some 22-carat gold bars with 18-carat biscuits.
Meanwhile, the BB has requested the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission to test the gold reserve to put at rest the allegation of adulteration of gold. The BAEC is expected to conduct the test in presence of representatives of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) and the Bangladesh Bank. Now the question arises if the BAEC examination finds the precious metal alloyed who will be held responsible?
Earlier, Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Rabiul Hassan said there is no scope of unauthorised entry into the central bank's vault which has a six-tier security system. "How is it possible to change the 22-carat gold bars into 18-carat gold bars or mix other metals with the gold," He questioned. The BB has taken some strong internal security measures soon after the cyber heist of $1 billion by hackers. The BB also removed Debashish Chakraborty from the post of spokesperson of the BB since the allegation of gold adulteration came to light.
In the latest development in the gold saga, BB Governor Fazle Kabir formed a six-member strong 'high-powered' committee headed by Executive Director ANM Abul Kashem on government instruction on Monday. Kashem will be leading the panel consisting of four general managers and a deputy general manager of the central bank. According to a member of the inquiry committee, they have been asked to submit a report within two months. "We will also be looking into upgrading the process of depositing gold in the vault as well as the process of testing the precious metal," he said.
