Petition filed in HC challenging BB governor's appointment

A petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the appointment of Md Mostaqur Rahman as governor of Bangladesh Bank.

The petition was submitted today (5 March) by advocate Abdullah Al Amin and cites several media reports regarding the removal of the former governor.

It names the finance secretary, Bangladesh Bank, and Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman as respondents. It asks the court to explain why the removal of Ahsan H Mansur and the appointment of Md Mostaqur Rahman should not be declared illegal.

The petition also seeks a stay on the separate gazettes issued for the removal and the new appointment.

Barrister M Sarwar Hossain will represent the petitioner during the hearing.

Sarwar Hossain urged the government to investigate the matter, saying: "The law clearly states that a governor can only be removed if incompetence or incapacity is proven. And in the case of a new appointment, anyone who is a loan defaulter cannot be appointed."

He added, "We do not want to see Bangladesh Bank led by someone with a D-grade or F-grade record, as in the past. After 5 August, the state has an opportunity for reconstruction, and competent, skilled and honest individuals must be appointed to constitutional and major institutions."

"We hope that after the hearing, the court will declare the removal and the new appointment process illegal," he said.

Ahsan H Mansur was appointed governor by the interim government on 14 August 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government. He began work on banking sector reforms, with his term originally set to end in August 2028.

Earlier, on 25 February, the Financial Institutions Division under the finance ministry issued a gazette appointing Md Mostaqur Rahman as governor of Bangladesh Bank for a four-year term, replacing Ahsan H Mansur