Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has termed the actions and campaigns of certain central bank officials as a “conspiracy” and “propaganda” designed to undermine the process of merging and rescuing weak banks.
Speaking at an emergency press conference at the central bank headquarters on Wednesday, the Governor asserted that these activities are intended to disrupt efforts to stabilise the country’s banking sector.
Mansur revealed that the government and the central bank have already provided Tk32,000 crore in financial assistance to safeguard the interests of 7.6 million depositors. This funding is being utilised to gradually return money to those affected.
He alleged that a “vested interest group” is active in attempting to fail the recovery process so that banks might eventually return to their previous owners.
Institutional discipline, administrative action
The governor emphasised that bank mergers are a “state policy decision” and not a matter for individual officials or staff associations to dictate. He stated that central bank officials do not have the right to question government policy as it falls outside their jurisdiction.
“To keep an institution alive, discipline must be maintained,” Mansur said, adding that it is unacceptable for employees to hold a job while refusing to follow the organisation’s rules.
In response to the internal opposition, the central bank has initiated administrative measures. Show-cause notices have been issued to those involved in spreading propaganda.
Some officials were transferred outside Dhaka to maintain order after they continued to spread misinformation on social media following the show-cause notices, he added.
Service over employment
Addressing demands for his resignation from certain quarters, the Governor dismissed the matter as a non-issue.
“I did not come here for a job; I came to provide a service,” he remarked, stating that he could resign in “two seconds” if necessary, though any such decision would follow formal administrative processes.
Regarding the controversial topic of contractual appointments, Mansur noted that such arrangements have always existed within Bangladesh Bank and other institutions and would continue to be a feature of the organisation’s recruitment.
He reaffirmed that his primary mandate remains the protection of depositors and the restoration of stability to the banking sector.
