Dhaka, February 25 The government of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman appointed a new central bank governor on Wednesday, effectively terminating the contract of the incumbent, who was appointed by the interim government.
Mostaqur Rahman, an economist, will serve as the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank for the next four years, replacing Ahsan H Mansur, who was appointed by the interim regime led by Muhammad Yunus, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.
This development came as Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, after assuming office on February 17, began terminating most contractual appointments made by the previous interim regime.
Mostaqur Rahman served as a member of the BNP's election steering committee during the 13th national election held on February 12.
An economist who previously headed the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), he is the CEO of a leading private textile company.
Mostaqur Rahman is also the chairman of the Standing Committee on Bangladesh Bank of the crucial export-oriented Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
The new appointment followed a protest by central officials and employees against what they described as the previous governor's "authoritarian" conduct. Local newspapers reported that the employees, angered by the governor's actions, forced him out of office.
Meanwhile, Finance and Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that changes are common under a new government.
"A new government has come to power. Many things will change. There has been a change here (Bangladesh Bank) as well… changes will take place in many other areas too," he briefly told reporters at his office.
