Controversial CSR Allocations Under Mansur

Since its establishment on 18 January 1972, Bangladesh Bank has seen twelve governors hold office up to 25 February 2026. Among them, Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur served the shortest tenure, lasting just 1 year, 6 months, and 17 days. Despite his brief period in office, his term remains one of the most controversial in the central bank’s history.

Dr. Mansur was removed by the government two and a half years before his term was due to end, primarily due to concerns surrounding the management of Bangladesh Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund. Several senior officials have since questioned the decisions he made regarding the allocation of these funds.

CSR Fund Usage and Historical Context

Historically, the CSR fund has been allocated to education, healthcare, and social development initiatives. This includes financing computer labs in private and MPO-affiliated schools and supporting community welfare projects.

However, during Dr. Mansur’s tenure, allegations arose that he personally influenced allocations to organisations with which he had direct or personal connections.

Key Controversial Allocations:

Alleged Conflicts of Interest

Experts argue that approving funds to an institution where the governor serves as chairperson constitutes a direct conflict of interest. For instance, the Martha Lindstrom Nurjahan Begum Girls’ High School sits adjacent to Mansur’s privately owned Water Garden Resort and Spa in Basail, Tangail. Prior safety concerns regarding students’ access to the resort had already led the district administration to mandate gate removal in August 2022. Following this, Mansur became chairperson of the school management committee, and the subsequent CSR funding raised further scrutiny.

Furthermore, while CSR allocations are typically directed toward private and MPO-affiliated schools, the funding of Nilphamari Government High School was exceptional. Officials allege that this decision was influenced by Dr. Mansur’s personal connection to his childhood school, and departmental pressure may have expedited approval.

Institutional Response

Bangladesh Bank officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that no other governor has faced allegations of directing CSR funds to personally affiliated institutions. They emphasised that, given the central bank’s critical role, transparency and accountability in CSR fund management are paramount.

Dr. Mansur’s tenure has thus become a focal point for debates on governance, ethics, and procedural safeguards in the allocation of Bangladesh Bank’s CSR resources, highlighting the need for robust oversight to prevent potential conflicts of interest.