Reserve heist: Ex-BB chief Mansur to testify in NY court on 10 Apr

Ahsan H Mansur, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, will make a deposition before a New York court in the US on 10 April in connection with the ongoing legal battle to recover the central bank's stolen reserve funds.

The deposition follows an order earlier issued by the New York court, according to an internal document of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU).

According to the document, lawyers Dharmendra Nayar and Barrister Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin confirmed the court's order via email on 11 March.

Mansur has already submitted an affidavit at the court's request and is now required to provide a formal deposition. Legal firms BSNK and Keystone, appointed by the central bank, organised preparatory meetings for him on 6 and 10 April.

The former BB governor left Dhaka for New York via Washington, DC on 4 April and is expected to return on 12 April. He is accompanied by an official concerned to assist in the process.

According to the BFIU document, Bangladesh Bank will bear all expenses for the trip, including airfare, accommodation, and protocol equivalent to the status of a sitting Governor.

Additionally, BFIU Deputy Head Md Mafizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury has been requested by the legal team to be present in the US during the same period to provide expert testimony and discuss ongoing case developments. A meeting with the co-lead law firm, Cozen O'Connor, has also been scheduled.

The document further noted that lawyer Dharmendra Nayar from Keystone requested 15,000 British pounds to cover costs related to the deposition and the New York visit.

Furthermore, a proposal has been made to approve Barrister Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin's visit from 8-10 April, during which he will receive benefits equivalent to a deputy governor.

Due to the sensitivity of the legal proceedings, the BFIU recommended that the travel orders not be published on the Bangladesh Bank website, though immigration authorities will be formally notified.