HC dismisses writ challenging Mostaqur's appointment as Bangladesh Bank governor
Court also rejects challenge to Ahsan Mansur's removal and replacement
The High Court has summarily rejected a writ petition challenging the removal of Ahsan H Mansur as Bangladesh Bank governor and the appointment of Md Mostaqur Rahman to replace him.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury and Justice AF Saiful Karim rejected the petition today (6 September).
Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun filed the writ on 5 March, attaching newspaper reports concerning the cancellation of Ahsan H Mansur's remaining tenure.
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The Finance Division secretary, Bangladesh Bank, represented by its governor, and Governor Mostaqur Rahman were made respondents in the petition.
The petition sought a rule asking why the removal of Ahsan H Mansur and the appointment of a new governor should not be declared illegal. It also sought a stay on the gazettes issued for his removal and Mostaqur Rahman's appointment.
Following the filing, the petitioner's lawyer Barrister Sarwar Hossain argued that the government had removed Ahsan H Mansur in violation of the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972.
Under the law, a Bangladesh Bank governor cannot be removed unless he is found incapable or ineligible for the post, he said.
He also claimed that a loan defaulter cannot be appointed Bangladesh Bank governor, alleging that Mostaqur Rahman was a loan defaulter and had links to an entity of the controversial S Alam Group.
Following the fall of the Awami League government after the mass uprising, the interim government appointed economist Ahsan H Mansur as Bangladesh Bank governor on 14 August 2024.
His contract was set to expire in August 2028. Under his leadership, reforms were initiated in the banking sector.
However, on 25 February, the Finance Ministry's Financial Institutions Division issued separate gazettes appointing Mostaqur Rahman as governor and cancelling Ahsan H Mansur's remaining tenure.
