Ahsan H Mansur poised to become new BB governor

The government is likely to appoint Ahsan H Mansur, a former official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank. 

This move may require amending the current age restriction in the law, which limits the appointment of anyone over 67 years of age to the governor's position. Mansur, who is over 67, could see this requirement relaxed to facilitate his appointment.

Sources within the Ministry of Finance revealed that the advisory council, chaired by the chief adviser, is scheduled to meet at 4:30pm today to discuss the potential relaxation of the age limit. If approved, a notification from the Financial Institutions Division could be issued as early as today.

A senior official from the Financial Institutions Division mentioned that while Mansur is a strong candidate for the role, the final decision hinges on the outcome of the advisory council's meeting. If the age condition is relaxed, the appointment could be confirmed by the end of the day.

This development comes after Abdur Rauf Talukder resigned as governor on August 9, following the collapse of Hasina government amid student protests. The new governor will step into the role soon after the official announcement.

MAS/NMA