Palatine Media, a UK PR firm, attempted to undermine Ahsan Mansur, the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank, by spreading false corruption allegations to British MPs. Intended to disrupt Mansur’s efforts in recovering stolen state assets totaling $25 billion, the campaign provoked skepticism among officials. The lack of credible evidence surrounding these claims and potential breaches of ethical standards have led to requests for an investigation into the firm’s actions.
Recently, Palatine Media, a UK public relations firm, sought to discredit the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank, Ahsan Mansur, by disseminating false allegations to British MPs ahead of his meetings. These notes aimed to jeopardize Mansur’s work in recovering approximately $25 billion believed to be embezzled during the Awami League’s governance. Allegedly, these funds have connections to UK properties purchased by several prominent individuals associated with the prior administration.
Key figures implicated in these allegations include former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and former Exim Bank head Nazrul Islam Majumdar. Notably, S. Alam has been identified as the prime suspect, accused of misappropriating over £10 billion, although he reportedly does not own property in London. Due to the stakes involved for these businessmen, defensive legal actions from them, including hiring top law firms, are expected.
Before meetings with Mansur, MPs received emails from Palatine Media containing unsubstantiated corruption claims, purportedly aimed to undermine his position and credibility. The information was derived from a dubious source, presenting allegations that Mansur holds unexplained offshore wealth without any substantial evidence.
Mansur, a respected economist with a distinguished career at the International Monetary Fund, had never faced such allegations previously. The disinformation campaign’s effectiveness faltered as MPs expressed skepticism concerning the claims made against him, particularly given his reputation and the context surrounding ongoing efforts to recover stolen state assets.
The allegations mentioned by Palatine Media include vague claims about the Governor’s family’s foreign wealth but lacked substantiation. Furthermore, a linked article cited by the firm did not support these assertions, and its authorship raised significant doubts, given its reliance on anonymous sources. Palatine Media, while denying knowledge of the article’s authorship, faced criticism for not adhering to the ethical standards expected of public relations professionals.
Despite Palatine Media’s claims of confidentiality regarding their client, this position raises questions about transparency and adherence to professional ethical standards. Mansur reacted to these events, stating that the attempts to tarnish his reputation occur amidst his earnest efforts to rally support for asset recovery.
Following these contentious communications, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax and Corruption have referred the matter for further investigation by parliamentary authorities. There is growing concern that the actions taken by Palatine Media constitute a deliberate attempt to mislead UK politicians regarding corruption issues relevant to Bangladesh, necessitating thorough scrutiny to identify those behind the campaign.
In summary, the actions of Palatine Media reveal a troubling attempt to distort the reputation of Ahsan Mansur, the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank, as he leads crucial efforts in recovering stolen assets. The lack of credible evidence behind the allegations and the questionable source of information highlight the need for accountability and transparency in political communications. Given these unfolding circumstances, further investigation by UK parliamentary authorities may shed light on the motives behind such misleading practices and enhance understanding of corruption challenges faced by Bangladesh.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
