BB Reserve Heist: Former chief to testify in US court Deposition set for Apr 10
A New York court has ordered former Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor Dr Ahsan H. Mansur to provide a deposition in the ongoing Bangladesh Bank reserve theft case, according to an internal document from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU).
The deposition is scheduled for April 10, with preparatory meetings arranged in advance to finalise testimony and legal coordination.
According to the document, lawyers Dharmendra Nair and Barrister Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin confirmed the court order in an email on March 11, outlining the required preparations for Dr Mansur’s testimony.
The document states that Dr Mansur has already submitted an affidavit and is now required to give a direct deposition before the court.
Preparatory meetings have been scheduled by law firms BSNK and Keystone, which were appointed by Bangladesh Bank, on April 6 and April 10 to prepare for the testimony.
The document also notes that Dr Mansur left Bangladesh on April 4, travelling via Washington DC to New York, and is expected to return on April 12.
He requested that an accompanying official travel with him, with Bangladesh Bank covering airfare, accommodation and protocol facilities equivalent to those of the current governor.
It further recommends that BFIU Deputy Head Md Mofizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury accompany the visit to discuss expert testimony and other ongoing legal matters related to the reserve recovery case.
A meeting with co-lead legal counsel Cozen O’Connor has also been scheduled, while another officer involved in the reserve recovery process may assist in coordinating the case.
Meanwhile, Keystone lawyer Dharmendra Nair has requested £15,000 to cover deposition-related expenses, submitting a bill on March 11.
The document also proposes that Barrister Syed Afzal Hasan Uddin travel to the United States from April 8 to April 10, with facilities equivalent to those provided to a deputy governor.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the document advises that the court order should not be published on the Bangladesh Bank website.
However, immigration authorities will be informed of the travel arrangements.
Attempts to obtain comments from Dr Mansur regarding the visit and deposition were unsuccessful.
The Bangladesh Bank reserve theft case, one of the country’s most significant financial crime investigations, continues to be pursued in international courts as authorities seek recovery of stolen funds and legal accountability.
