Picture this: Dhaka’s Bangladesh Bank, the heartbeat of the nation’s economy, overrun by its own employees in a fit of rage. On Wednesday, after sacking reformist Governor Ahsan H Mansur, officials turned on senior advisor Ahsan Ullah, dragging him out amid shouts and shoves.
Around 30 personnel, led by Additional Director Tauhidul Islam and including Executive Director Sarwar Hussain, Director Naushad Mustafa, and Additional Director Tanvir Ahmad, formed the unruly pack. They chanted slogans, pushed Ullah into a car, and some lunged at him aggressively. Dhaka Tribune labeled it ‘hooliganism,’ a damning verdict on the central bank’s discipline.
Mansur’s departure marks a setback. The experienced economist had revived stalled initiatives: consolidating vulnerable banks, bolstering monitoring, confronting deliberate defaulters. These steps, vital for stability, irked influential defaulters. His removal post-press conference underscores the timing’s suspicious nature.
This episode shatters illusions of institutional integrity. A central bank plagued by internal thuggery can’t inspire confidence amid a banking crisis riddled with bad loans. The violence signals deeper rot in governance and independence.
Demands echo for government resolve: investigate thoroughly, enforce discipline, and prioritize policy over personal vendettas. Failing that, public trust evaporates, reforms crumble, and Bangladesh’s financial future darkens. Time to act before the chaos spreads.