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Published : 11 Jun 2025, 06:18 PM
Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has confirmed that his daughter, Mehreen Sarah Mansur, owns a flat in Dubai, though he maintains that she bought the property before he took office as the chief of the central bank.
He insisted that he had no involvement with the flat owned by her daughter.
During a call with bdnews24.com over the phone from the United Kingdom on Wednesday, Mansur said: “My daughter is an adult—she’s 40 years old and married. She lives in Dubai because of her husband’s business. She’s a US citizen and fully capable of purchasing such a flat on her own. Why would I be involved in her financial matters?”
His remarks come after SM Jakir Hossain, former general secretary of the central executive committee of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, made a post on Facebook accusing him of money laundering and linking him to the Dubai property.
“In fact, my daughter purchased the flat in 2023—well before I was appointed governor,” Mansur said. “My appointment and the purchase of the flat have absolutely no connection.”
He explained that his daughter’s family had been renting the flat, which was previously owned by an Indian national. When the owner decided to sell it, Mehreen bought it. The purchase was finalised in 2023, and formal transfer procedures were completed in 2024.
According to him, 80 percent of the flat’s cost was covered by a mortgage, while Mehreen paid the rest herself.
“In the past three years, I’ve only given my daughter a piece of clothing. That’s all,” the governor said.
Bangladesh saw sweeping reforms in the banking sector after Sheikh Hasina government was ousted on Aug 5, 2024.
The then governor Abdur Rouf Talukder resigned amid these changes.
Mansur, a former economist with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was appointed governor that month, and has since been leading efforts by the interim government to recover funds allegedly laundered during the previous regime.
On Monday, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of deposed prime minister Hasina, shared Jakir’s Facebook post on Monday, sparking controversy surrounding the flat.
The post alleged:
“Following the July Uprising, Ahsan H Mansur suddenly became the governor of Bangladesh Bank, and on Dec 24, 2024, he bought a flat in Dubai worth only Tk 450 million for his beloved daughter, Mehreen Sarah Mansur!”
Jakir’s post accused Mansur of money laundering, though no evidence was provided.
Since assuming office, Governor Mansur has launched reforms within the banking sector.
One of his first actions was halting what he described as "illegally provided" liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank to Shariah-based banks.
He also dissolved the boards of several struggling banks and restructured their leadership.
The move effectively removed several Islamic banks from the control of S Alam, a business group with close ties to the former ruling Awami League.
Forensic audit reports of these banks have since uncovered longstanding irregularities.
