Backlash from UK PR Firm’s Attempt to Discredit Bangladesh’s Central Banker

Palatine Media attempted to discredit Ahsan Mansur, Bangladesh’s central bank governor, by sending false corruption allegations to UK MPs before his meetings on wealth recovery. Mansur leads efforts to reclaim $25 billion believed stolen by the previous government. Despite the smear tactics, these efforts have understandably triggered scrutiny, showing the challenges posed by misinformation in the context of ongoing corruption investigations.

A UK public relations firm, Palatine Media, attempted to tarnish the reputation of Ahsan Mansur, Bangladesh’s central bank governor, by disseminating false corruption allegations to British Members of Parliament just before his scheduled discussions on wealth recovery. Mansur has been spearheading the effort to repatriate approximately $25 billion believed to have been embezzled over 15 years by the previous Bangladeshi administration. Reports indicate that some of these funds have reportedly been traced to the UK, where they have been used to acquire luxury properties.

The Bangladesh Bank has identified former officials, including Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, as individuals connected to significant property holdings in the UK. The allegations suggest that these individuals, including Salman F. Rahman’s family members, might have exploited their positions for personal gain. Notably, S. Alam is implicated in the misappropriation of at least £10 billion, though it appears he does not own any property in London.

In a twist, Palatine Media, allegedly supporting the corrupt individuals, sent misleading emails to influential MPs, alleging corruption against Mansur. These claims were sourced from anonymous articles published on a counterfeit news platform. The intent appeared to be to discredit Mansur ahead of his meetings aimed at discussing the recovery of misappropriated funds.

Ahsan Mansur, a reputable economist and former International Monetary Fund representative, has built a solid career based on integrity and professionalism, and has never faced allegations of the nature presented in the emails from Palatine Media, which sought to question the integrity of his family’s wealth.

The accusations from Palatine Media suggested that Mansur’s family possessed undisclosed foreign wealth. However, the article referenced by the firm only asserted that Mansur’s daughter is a co-director of a Singaporean company, lacking any substantial evidence of illicit assets. Furthermore, the article fails to clarify that Mansur’s daughter holds US citizenship, allowing her to rightfully establish a business abroad.

Concerns were raised regarding the authorship of the article, as the name credited appeared to be a pseudonym linked to a stock image, casting doubt on the validity of the claims. Palatine Media has distanced itself from the article’s authorship, while maintaining that their intentions were merely to highlight perceived issues in Bangladesh’s financial management.

The communications from Palatine Media seemingly violate the UK’s Chartered Institute of Public Relations Code of Conduct, raising issues related to the accuracy and transparency of their claims. Despite these infractions, the firm defended its actions, insisting that it was not engaged in lobbying.

Mansur expressed frustration regarding the orchestrated campaign undermining his reputation as he works to reclaim Bangladesh’s stolen assets. The situation has drawn the attention of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax and Corruption, prompting inquiries into the firm’s alleged disinformation efforts to mislead politicians about corruption allegations against him. This incident illustrates the ongoing struggles to tackle corruption and disinformation as the interim government confronts the challenges posed by the previous regime’s corruption.

The actions of Palatine Media aimed to malign Ahsan Mansur ahead of crucial discussions on recovering stolen assets from Bangladesh, yet they resulted in increased scrutiny from British parliamentarians. The allegations against Mansur lack credible proof and have led to wider investigations into the disinformation tactics employed by the PR firm. This incident underscores the challenges faced by the Bangladeshi interim government in addressing corruption and combating misinformation. In light of the scrutiny, the claimants’ attempts to discredit Mansur seem to have backfired, further complicating the narrative surrounding accountability for past corrupt practices.

Original Source: www.tbsnews.net