The government has appointed former finance secretary and chairman of state-run Sonali Bank Ltd Fazle Kabir as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank for the next four years.

The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification on his appointment today.

The notification says, Fazle Kabir has been made governor as per section 10 (5) of the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972 on contractual basis. It says the appointment will come into effect from the date he joins office.

Fazle Kabir, now in New York, will return home on March 18.

Yesterday, embattled Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman quit amid a huge row over the heist of $101 million from the Bangladesh Bank's account with the US Federal Reserve Bank.

The Governor's resignation came following his meeting with the prime minister at her office.