Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh Bank has honoured officials of Sri Lanka’s Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC) for their exemplary courage and professionalism in blocking a fraudulent $20 million transaction during the 2016 reserve heist.
The recognition was awarded at a special ceremony held on Thursday at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters in Dhaka. The central bank’s Governor, Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, presided over the event as the chief guest.
Also present at the event were Inspector General of Police Dr. Baharul Alam, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh, four Deputy Governors of Bangladesh Bank, the head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), and top officials from Pan Asia Bank.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman praised the Sri Lankan bank officials for their alertness and integrity during the 2016 cyber heist. “Their professionalism served as a shining example for the global financial community and protected not only Bangladesh, but also the broader international banking system from a potential catastrophe,” he said.
In his closing address, Governor Dr. Mansur stated, “This honour is not merely an expression of gratitude, but a symbol of integrity, responsibility, and cross-border cooperation. The bold decisions taken by the Sri Lankan bankers have played a vital role in strengthening Bangladesh’s cyber security.”
The event also featured discussions on Bangladesh-Sri Lanka bilateral ties, cybersecurity in the financial sector, regulatory collaboration, and regional cooperation. Multimedia presentations and cultural performances highlighted Bangladesh’s economic progress, natural beauty, and contributions to global peacekeeping.
Toward the end of the programme, both central banks reaffirmed their commitment to tackling financial crimes, enhancing tech-driven supervision, and deepening future collaboration.
On February 4, 2016, cybercriminals stole $81 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Around $15 million has since been recovered, but approximately $66 million remains missing.
