Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled
Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Gopalganj District, Bengal Province, British India |
| Died | February 24, 2021 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, banker |
| Known for | Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank; managing director roles at Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Agrani Bank, Sonali Bank, Pubali Bank; chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank; investigation of Dhaka Stock Exchange crash |
Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled (4 July 1941 – 24 February 2021) was a distinguished Bangladeshi economist who held the position of Deputy Governor at Bangladesh Bank. In recognition of his contributions, Bangla Academy honored him with an honorary fellowship in 2011.
Early life
Born on 4 July 1941 in the Gopalganj District, which was then part of Bengal Province under British India, Khaled pursued higher education at the University of Dhaka, where he completed a master's degree in geography as well as an MBA.
Career
Khaled embarked on his banking profession in 1963. Throughout his career, he occupied several key leadership roles including managing director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank (1994–1995), Agrani Bank (1996), and Sonali Bank (1997). He served as Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank from 1998 until 2001, followed by his tenure as managing director of Pubali Bank until 2006.
In 2008, Khaled was named chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank. Additionally, he held a directorship at Grameen Fund and was known for his opposition to the creation of Probashi Kallyan Bank.
His accolades include the Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal awarded in 2009. Khaled led a significant inquiry into the Dhaka Stock Exchange crash, uncovering manipulation involving around 200 billion taka and revealing the involvement of regulators and leading business personalities. This investigation spurred demands for reform within the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission.
In 2013, he was honored with the Khan Bahadur Nawab Ali Chowdhury National Award.
In 2020, following his appointment by the Bangladesh High Court as chairman of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited, Khaled resigned shortly thereafter, citing the misappropriation of Tk 1,600 crore. Later that year, in December, he joined Pubali Bank Limited’s Board as an independent director.
Death
Khaled tested positive for COVID-19 on 1 February 2021 and was admitted to Bangladesh Specialized Hospital Limited. On 23 February, he was placed on life support and subsequently transferred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, where he passed away on 24 February 2021.