Ahsan H Mansur to testify in New York court on April 10

Former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr. Ahsan H Mansur has departed Dhaka for the United States to provide a pivotal deposition in the much-discussed Bangladesh Bank reserve theft case.

According to a Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) document, Mansur is scheduled to testify before a New York court on April 10 as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.

As part of his travel, Mansur left Dhaka on April 4 for Washington, D.C., and is expected to proceed to New York ahead of the hearing. He had earlier submitted an affidavit to the court upon request.

Lawyers representing the case, including Dharmendra Nayar and Barrister Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin, formally communicated the court’s directives via email on March 11, the document said.

In preparation for the deposition, Bangladesh Bank-appointed law firms BSNK and Keystone are set to hold strategy meetings on April 6 and April 10.

BFIU officials said Bangladesh Bank will bear the full cost of Mansur’s visit, including airfare, accommodation and protocol arrangements, with facilities equivalent to those of the incumbent governor.

He is expected to return home on April 12.

BFIU Deputy Chief Md Mofizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury has been asked to being present in the US during the same period. He is expected to participate as an expert witness and assist in legal discussions.

A meeting has also been scheduled with international law firm Cozen O’Connor as part of the case proceedings. Meanwhile, Keystone’s Dharmendra Nayar has submitted a bill seeking £15,000 for expenses related to the deposition.

Given the sensitivity of the matter, officials recommended that no formal office order regarding the visit be published on Bangladesh Bank’s website, although immigration authorities will be duly informed.

Officials believe Mansur’s testimony could play a significant role in shaping the future course of the case and strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the legal battle.