Dhaka: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has found the involvement of 20 foreigners in the $101-million cyber heist from Bangladesh Bank’s account with the US Federal Reserve Bank.

Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of CID Shah Alam, at a press briefing on Monday said: ‘A process is underway to arrest them. If necessary, we’ll take the help of the Interpol and other international agencies in this regard.’

Responding to a question, he said they also found the negligence of some Bangladesh Bank officials in maintaining cyber security.

‘Two CID teams recently visited Sri Lanka and the Philippines. One team returned home from the Philippines on 14 April, while another from Sri Lanka on 15 April,’ the DIG added.

Earlier in February, hackers swindled out over $100 million from the Bangladesh Bank’s account with the US Federal Reserve Bank. The sensational heist surfaced after a Philippines newspaper published a report on it.

The CID was given the onus of investigation into the incident after the central bank filed a case with Motijheel Police Station in the city on 15 March, 40 days after the theft had occurred.

Following the cyber heist, Dr Atiur Rahman resigned as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The government also removed two deputy governors from the central bank following the incident.

Immediately after Atiur’s resignation, the government appointed former finance secretary Fazle Kabir as the new governor.