Atiur Rahman, Bangladesh Bank Governor has resigned on Tuesday over the mysterious cyber heist of $81 million from Bangladesh's official account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Three of his subordinates have been fired following the biggest ever bank theft.

They are the first political casualties since the theft came to light this month. Unidentified hackers have diverted the money in early February using official electronic bank messaging technology in early February. Most of the stolen money has been transferred to accounts in the Philippines, reports The New York Times.

Rahman, a noted economist, has met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's office in the morning and handed over the resignation. He has served for seven years as the central bank governor and scheduled to go on retirement in August this year. Ihsanul Karim, press secretary to the prime minister has confirmed the resignation to Gulf News.

Rahman has reiterated that the central bank hasn't informed him about the theft. He claims to get learned of the matter a month later when the news first appeared in the media. However, the prime minister has accepted his resignation, reports The Guardian quoting Rahman.