Noted banker Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled dies
Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled
Bangladesh Desk: Former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor and economist Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Wednesday.
He breathed his last at 5:45am at the age of 80.
Ibrahim Khaled was undergoing post-COVID treatment at the intensive care unit, BSMMU vice-chancellor Kanak Kanti Barua said.
He was much known for his courageous voice against on-going irregularities, corruption and malpractices in the banking sector.
Khaled headed an investigation on the stock market collapse of 2010-2011.
Expressing profound shock and sorrow at the death of Ibrahim Khaled, president M Abdul Hamid in a message said that the people of this country will always remember the talent and skill left by Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled for the smooth development of the banking sector.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a condolence message also expressed deep shock at the demise of the eminent economist and banker.
Parliament speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Bangladesh Bank governor Fazle Kabir and former governor Atiur Rahman, among others, expressed their deep shock over the death of the seasoned economist.
They also extended sympathy to the family members of Khaled.
Ibrahim Khaled was associated with the banking system of Bangladesh for nearly six decades.
The economist, a Dhaka University MBA, got involved with the bank management at the age of 23 in the year 1963.
He was managing directors of Bangladesh Krishi Bank in 1994 and 1995, Agrani Bank in 1996 and Sonali Bank in 1997.
Later, he served at Bangladesh Bank as its deputy governor from 1998 to 2000.
He was appointed an independent director of Pubali Bank on December 9, 2020.
Khaled was admitted to Bangladesh Specialised Hospital after he was tested positive for COVID-19. Later, he was shifted to BSMMU after his condition deteriorated.
In condolence messages, mourners said that Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled was a fearless heart in giving his opinion and advice in different crisis moments of the banking sector. His death was an irreparable loss for the banking sector, they added.
His first namaz-e-janaza was held at Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela and the second one at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the city.
Ibrahim Khaled will be laid to eternal rest at Gopalganj sadar upazila where he was born in 1941.
