Bangladesh Bank suspends official over gambling, cryptocurrency allegations

Bangladesh Bank has temporarily suspended an assistant director after allegations of involvement in online gambling, cybercrime and illegal cryptocurrency transactions.

The suspended official, Md Rakibul Hasan Khan Raki, was posted at the central bank’s head office. The suspension was ordered on July 19 and took immediate effect, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Under Bangladesh Bank’s administrative rules, he will receive a subsistence allowance during the suspension period pending the outcome of the investigation.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan said the official faces several serious allegations, including cybercrime and online gambling. He added that the central bank’s rules require an employee to be suspended if a criminal case is filed against them, pending the investigation.

Sources said a team from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) recently went to the central bank to arrest the official, but he allegedly fled after receiving advance information. He remains absconding, and efforts to locate him are ongoing.

According to Bangladesh Bank and law enforcement sources, the official allegedly operated multiple bank accounts through which large sums of money were transferred. Investigators suspect a significant portion of those transactions was linked to online gambling and cryptocurrency activities.

A senior DB official confirmed that a case has been filed and the investigation is continuing. However, no further details have been disclosed to avoid affecting the inquiry.

Colleagues described the suspended official as reserved and said he generally kept to himself at work.

Repeated attempts to contact Rakibul Hasan Khan Raki for comment were unsuccessful.

SKS