New governor takes charge of Bangladesh Bank

The newly appointed Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Md. Mostakur Rahman, officially assumed his duties today, Thursday. He arrived at the central bank headquarters at 10:40am, where he was welcomed with flowers by the Deputy Governors and senior officials.

When approached by journalists for a statement, the Governor remarked, "Work first, talk later," before proceeding to his office.

Upon arrival, the Governor held an introductory meeting with the Deputy Governors, followed by a session with all Executive Directors. He is scheduled to visit the Finance Minister’s office at the Secretariat following these meetings.

The government appointed Mr. Rahman, a businessman, as Governor for a four-year term on Wednesday, replacing Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur amid ongoing protests by central bank officials. Mr. Rahman is the owner of Hera Sweaters and previously served as the Chairman of the BGMEAs Standing Committee on Bangladesh Bank.

Historically, Governors of the central bank have been chosen from the ranks of economists or bureaucrats. This appointment marks the first time a businessman has been placed at the helm of the institution—a move that observers noted is unprecedented in central banking globally.

Md. Mostakur Rahman was a member of the BNP’s 41-member central election conduction committee during the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. Hailing from Anwara in Chittagong, he holds a B.Com (Honors) and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Dhaka. He also qualified as a Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) from ICMAB in 1992.

Throughout his career, he has served on the boards of several trade bodies, including REHAB (Real Estate), ATAB (Travel Agents), and the DCCI. He has also served as a Director of the Chittagong Stock Exchange.