The High Court today upheld the government's decision to remove Ahsan H Mansur as governor of Bangladesh Bank and appoint Md Mostaqur Rahman in his place.
The bench of Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury and Justice AFM Saiful Karim summarily rejected a writ petition challenging the legality of the decision after hearing arguments from the lawyers concerned.
Deputy Attorney General Mahfuz Bin Yousuf told The Daily Star that the court rejected the petition on the ground that the authorities could remove the Bangladesh Bank governor by giving one month's notice or paying one month's salary, as stipulated in the appointment contract.
Writ petitioner Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun said he would appeal against the HC order before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
Barrister Sunny Abdul Haque appeared for the petitioner, while Advocate Jamal Uddin represented Bangladesh Bank.
Abdullah Al Mamun filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation on March 5, challenging the government's decision to remove Mansur and appoint Mostaqur as the central bank governor.
The petition also sought a stay on the government order ending Mansur's tenure and appointing Mostaqur.
The petitioner argued that the decision violated provisions of the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972. He claimed the law does not allow a governor to be removed unless he or she is found incapable or incompetent.
The petition also challenged Mostaqur's appointment, alleging that he was a loan defaulter and had links to a company belonging to S Alam Group.
The government removed Mansur on February 25 and appointed Mostaqur as governor through separate gazette notifications issued by the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance.
One notification cancelled Mansur's remaining tenure with immediate effect “in the public interest”. The other appointed Mostaqur for a four-year term from the date of his joining, subject to his relinquishing professional ties with other institutions and organisations.
The appointments and removal were also stated to take immediate effect “in the public interest”.
