AFM Shahinul Islam, head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), has been placed on forced leave after his several controversial videos went viral on social media.

A three-member investigation committee, led by a deputy governor and two executive directors of Bangladesh Bank, has been formed.

Officials from the central bank’s Information Technology Division and other relevant departments will assist the committee.

Prior to this, a section of Bangladesh Bank officials and employees submitted a memorandum to the central bank’s governor yesterday, stating that several controversial videos of AFM Shahinul Islam circulating on social media have severely tarnished the image of the state as well as the institution.

The videos first surfaced on WhatsApp and Messenger on Thursday.

Shahinul, however, claims the clips were generated using artificial intelligence.

Later, the central bank launched an investigation into the matter.

It is worth noting that Governor Ahsan H Mansur did not recommend Shahinul’s appointment in the search committee. The Finance Ministry appointed him anyway in January, sparking controversy.

The post had remained vacant since the ouster of former chief Masud Biswas in a major protest on 8 August last year.