Six crisis-hit banks are sending their managing directors (MDs) on three-month leave as the central bank commissions forensic audits into the lenders.

The banks are: First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, Exim Bank and ICB Islamic Bank.

The lenders, except for ICB and Exim Bank, were heavily controlled by S Alam Group, a big beneficiary of the Awami League regime. Exim Bank was led by Md. Nazrul Islam Mazumder, a close ally of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The move to send the MDs on leave came in a meeting yesterday between the Bangladesh Bank and representatives of the six Shariah-based banks at the BB headquarters. BB Governor Ahsan H Mansur presided over the meeting.

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The issue was first discussed in a meeting between the central bank and the board members of the six banks on January 2.

The decision was taken centring the forensic audit that started yesterday, The Daily Star has learnt from BB officials informed with the proceedings.

The forensic audit is being conducted on more than a dozen banks with the help of the Asian Development Bank.

Initially, six banks that are saddled with huge loan irregularities and scams following the 15 years of Awami League rule would be looked into.

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Ernst & Young would be conducting forensic audits into Exim, Social Islami and ICB Islamic Bank, while KPMG would be looking at First Security Islami, Global Islami and Union Bank.

The board of directors of six banks jointly decided that their MDs will be on leave as the central bank will be taking those banks under the review of assets quality, BB Spokesperson Husne Ara Shikha told journalists yesterday.

The MDs have been asked to go on temporary leave to ensure that no one can interfere in the review, she said, adding that if their involvement in irregularities is not found in the audit they will be able to rejoin the bank after their leave period ends.

"But if anything is found, then other considerations will have to be made," she added.

Syed Waseque Md Ali, the MD of First Security Islami Bank, was sent on three months' leave on Saturday. The other five banks sent their MDs on leave yesterday.