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Actress Toma Mirza’s Appointment as AVP Without Banking Experience Raises Questions at AB Bank

Staff Reporter

Popular Bangladeshi actress Toma Mirza has been appointed as an Assistant Vice President (AVP) at AB Bank, according to sources familiar with the matter. She has reportedly joined the bank’s Brand and Communication Department.

The appointment has raised questions among some bank officials and Bangladesh Bank officials, particularly because Mirza has no prior professional experience in the banking sector.

Recently, Mirza announced on her social media that she had been appointed as an officer at a private bank. The announcement sparked discussion after it became known that she had joined AB Bank as an AVP.

People familiar with the matter said AB Bank is currently facing financial difficulties, while promotions for many of its existing employees have reportedly been delayed. Against this backdrop, the direct appointment of Mirza to an AVP position has drawn criticism and questions about the recruitment process.

Mirza studied law at Manarat International University. According to her own account, she has been involved in the acting profession for the past 16 years. Although she has an academic background in law and extensive experience in the entertainment industry, she has been appointed to the bank’s Brand and Communication Department.

Several AB Bank executives said the department currently operates with a limited budget because of the bank’s financial situation. They also questioned the necessity of making such a new appointment under the circumstances.

An AB Bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The bank is not in a good position. Financially, it is on life support. At such a time, appointing an actress has raised many questions. While many bank employees are waiting for promotions, a person without relevant experience has been appointed directly to an AVP position.”

The official also claimed that the bank’s chairman appointed Mirza following a recommendation from a minister or state minister. However, no independent evidence could be found to substantiate the claim.

Arif Hossain Khan, spokesperson and executive director of Bangladesh Bank and the central bank’s observer for AB Bank, expressed surprise at the appointment.

“I heard from you that an actress has been appointed. I do not know under what criteria she was appointed. I will certainly ask the bank about it. But when a bank is in such poor financial condition, the question must be asked why it would suddenly appoint an actress,” he said.

Khan said banks have recently been required to inform their boards about all types of recruitment. However, he said Bangladesh Bank had not been informed about this appointment.

“The matter will be raised at the next board meeting. There will be many questions about this appointment. The bank will have to explain how someone with a background in law was appointed directly to an AVP position,” he said.

He further said each position in a bank requires specific qualifications and experience and that banks cannot appoint just anyone to any position.

“Generally, in banking-sector recruitment, subjects such as accounting, finance and business studies receive priority. However, I do not know how or under which category the actress was appointed,” he said.

Another Bangladesh Bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said direct appointments to AVP positions at private banks generally require eight to 10 years of experience.

“The question is what experience or institutional necessity justified appointing an actress to an AVP position. Bangladesh Bank should seek an explanation from the bank regarding the appointment,” the official said.

Attempts were made to contact AB Bank’s newly appointed Managing Director Arif Billah Adil Chowdhury for his comments. He did not answer the phone. A text message was later sent to his personal number seeking clarification about the appointment, but no response was received.

Attempts were also made to contact Toma Mirza on her personal phone. She could not be reached. A message was subsequently sent to her via WhatsApp, but she did not respond.

The appointment and the circumstances surrounding it are therefore likely to come under further scrutiny, particularly in light of AB Bank’s reported financial challenges and the central bank’s concerns about recruitment procedures.