Palatine Media attempted to smear Ahsan Mansur, Bangladesh Bank’s governor, by sending false corruption claims to UK MPs ahead of his meetings to discuss asset recovery efforts. The accusations lack evidence, and Mansur’s strong reputation as a career economist has led to skepticism regarding the PR firm’s intentions. The situation has prompted parliamentary members to call for investigations into potential disinformation tactics.
Palatine Media, a UK public relations firm, attempted to discredit Ahsan Mansur, the governor of Bangladesh Bank, by disseminating false corruption claims to British MPs. Mansur is engaged in recovery efforts for approximately $25 billion reportedly embezzled by former officials during the Awami League’s tenure. This financial misappropriation involved pro-government businessmen who allegedly took out non-repayable loans, with some funds traced to high-value properties in the UK, according to Netra News.
The claims made by Palatine Media include targeting notable figures like former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and Beximco vice-chairman Salman F. Rahman, whose relatives own property in the UK. Additionally, S. Alam has been accused of siphoning off £10 billion. Due to the potential fallout, these individuals have sought legal representation from prominent defense law firms.
Palatine Media, while not revealing its client, sent emails containing allegations against Mansur before his meetings with UK officials. These accusations appeared on a suspiciously formatted website and baselessly implied that the governor’s family held undisclosed wealth abroad. The article cited by Palatine Media lacks credible evidence and merely noted a family connection to a Singaporean business, missing crucial context regarding access and legal ownership of assets.
Mansur holds an extensive background in economics, having spent 28 years at the IMF. After transitioning to leadership roles in Bangladesh’s economic policy sphere, he received no prior corruption allegations that could tarnish his reputation. Not surprisingly, MPs expressed skepticism towards the PR firm’s claims after receiving the discrediting emails.
Palatine Media’s assertions are unsubstantiated; they provided no proof supporting their allegations. The article used as a reference did not substantiate any accusations of financial impropriety, detailing only general concerns. Furthermore, doubts about the authorship of the article arise as the author’s name is associated with stock images found online. Palatine Media maintained that they were not involved in publishing the disinformation, stating their claims should be viewed as matters worthy of parliamentary consideration.
The actions of Palatine Media contradict the UK Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ Code of Conduct, which requires accurate information and transparency about the clients represented. While a representative of Palatine claimed not to be lobbying, scrutiny remains regarding whether their conduct adhered to public relations ethics. Mansur has remarked on the concerted effort to undermine his image during his vital asset recovery initiatives.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax and Corruption has referred this issue to parliamentary authorities for a thorough investigation. Given the backdrop of widespread corruption allegations facing the former Awami League government, this incident highlights ongoing challenges in combating misinformation and accountability in Bangladesh’s political landscape, adding complexity to the discourse surrounding corruption and economic recovery efforts.
The attempt by Palatine Media to undermine Ahsan Mansur, the governor of Bangladesh Bank, serves as an illustration of strategic disinformation tactics employed to hinder accountability in governance. Despite the PR firm’s efforts to spread unsubstantiated claims of corruption against Mansur, the lack of credible evidence raises concerns about the integrity of such actions, leading to calls for parliamentary investigations. This situation underscores the challenges in reclaiming stolen assets and reinforces the importance of transparency in political communications, especially in the context of corruption recovery in Bangladesh.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
