PR Firm Targets Bangladesh Bank Governor
British public relations firm Palatine Media has added a new twist to Bangladesh’s political and economic landscape. The firm circulated blog posts under fake journalist names to British lawmakers, accusing Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur of illegal wealth. Although the smear campaign soon collapsed, evidence later revealed that the same firm started working directly for the Awami League within weeks. This revelation has raised sharp questions: why target the central bank governor, and why do political forces in Bangladesh increasingly rely on foreign lobbying firms?
How the Campaign Began
The controversy started when Palatine Media emailed several blog posts to British MPs before Dr. Mansur’s scheduled meetings in London. The posts falsely claimed that his daughter owned “undisclosed” assets linked to him. Though baseless, the timing of these allegations aimed to undermine Dr. Mansur’s credibility and weaken his influence with British policymakers. Soon, the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Responsible Tax and Corruption flagged the matter for investigation, and British media covered the issue widely.
Awami League Connection Surfaces
The real shock came when documents showed Palatine Media also handled PR for the Awami League. Firm head Conall Walsh confirmed in an email that he answered questions from foreign journalists on behalf of Sheikh Hasina, her family, and the party. He insisted that the anti-Mansur campaign and the Awami League’s contract were separate. Yet observers believe the interests overlapped, creating suspicion about political motives behind the smear campaign.
Why Target Dr. Mansur?
Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur is not a politician but a career economist and former IMF official with global experience. As governor, he actively pushed to recover laundered money, particularly assets hidden in Britain. Analysts argue that some powerful business groups feared losing their illegal wealth under his leadership. To protect themselves, they sought to discredit him internationally.
Transparency International Bangladesh’s Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman dismissed the campaign as a deliberate attempt to destroy credibility. He noted that vested groups involved in money laundering might have hired Palatine Media to block investigations.
Political Stakes for Awami League
The issue carries broader political implications. After ruling for many years, the Awami League faces judicial and political crises, along with global criticism over corruption and human rights. As its domestic popularity declines, the party has turned abroad. In the US, Sajeeb Wazed Joy hired a lobbying firm close to former President Donald Trump. In Britain, the party engaged Palatine Media and legal chambers like Doughty Street to lobby international organizations, including the UN.
However, key questions remain unanswered: who funds these costly contracts, and why is there no transparency? Palatine Media refuses to disclose its financial backers, despite ethical guidelines requiring firms to reveal their clients. Although the firm calls itself a consultancy, its activities—sending emails, spreading blogs, and influencing MPs—fall directly under lobbying by British law.
Economic and Democratic Concerns
The smear campaign has serious implications beyond politics. If a central bank governor’s reputation suffers abroad, it undermines confidence in Bangladesh’s financial sector and deters foreign investors. Critics also warn that political parties’ reliance on foreign lobbying reflects a deeper lack of accountability to the people. Instead of winning public trust at home, parties spend millions abroad to secure support.
Business groups close to ruling elites appear to use PR firms not just for politics but also for shielding themselves from anti-corruption drives. Smear tactics thus damage both governance and the economy.
Weak Oversight in Britain
International watchdogs argue that Britain’s regulatory system allows such firms to operate with little accountability. The absence of strict oversight makes it easy for foreign political groups to exploit these PR networks. Combined with the financial power of Bangladeshi interest groups, this environment enables firms like Palatine Media to thrive.
Bigger Picture
Targeting Dr. Mansur was not only a personal attack but also an attempt to weaken Bangladesh’s financial reforms and anti-money laundering efforts. At the same time, the Awami League’s reliance on foreign PR firms highlights its political insecurity and eroding public trust. Evading transparency while outsourcing image-building sends a negative signal for Bangladesh’s democracy.
Now, both the Bangladeshi people and the international community face a pressing question: will vested interests sacrifice national economic credibility for political gain, or will leaders establish accountability to resist such smear campaigns?
