Ahsan H. Mansur

Ahsan H. Mansur
Born	Bangladesh
Occupation(s)	Economist, central banker
Years active	1981–present
Known for	13th governor of Bangladesh Bank; former chairman of BRAC Bank; former executive director of Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh

Ahsan H. Mansur is an economist from Bangladesh who currently serves as the 13th governor of Bangladesh Bank. His prior roles include leading the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh, chairing BRAC Bank, and holding an independent directorship at Walton.

Early life

Mansur completed his undergraduate studies in economics at the University of Dhaka in 1974 and began teaching there two years later. He earned a master's degree in economics from McMaster University in 1977, followed by a doctorate from the University of Western Ontario in 1982.

Career

Beginning his career with the International Monetary Fund in 1981, Mansur worked within the Fiscal Affairs Department between 1983 and 1989. From 1991 to 1995, he was engaged in the Policy Development and Review as well as Middle Eastern Departments. Between 1989 and 1991, he acted as finance advisor to Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Wahidul Haq. From 1996 until 2007, Mansur was assigned to the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, serving as Senior Resident Representative in multiple countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Sudan, and Yemen.

Subsequently, Mansur took on the role of executive director at the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh and was appointed chairman of BRAC Bank in August 2019, succeeding Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. He also contributes to Policy Insights as a member of its Editorial Advisory Board.

Mansur has been outspoken on economic matters affecting Bangladesh. In 2019, he questioned official GDP growth figures due to discrepancies with other macroeconomic data and forecasted an economic slowdown. During the COVID-19 crisis, he stressed the importance of economic resilience and observed recovery signs by September 2020. He has promoted monetary policy measures to curb inflation and criticized S. Alam Group of Industries for obtaining banks through loans from their own banking institutions, accusing them of diverting $10 billion from the banking system—a claim the conglomerate denied while threatening international legal action. Calling for reforms within the financial sector to reduce non-performing loans, Mansur stated in 2023 that part of Bangladesh’s economic disturbances resulted from government passivity.

On 14 August 2024, Mansur was appointed Governor of Bangladesh Bank by Chief Adviser and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, committing to fight against money laundering. To facilitate his appointment at age 72, the Finance Ministry revised age restrictions for governors from 67 years with endorsement from the Interim Government and President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Since assuming office, Mansur has accused the previous administration of allowing $17 billion in financial misappropriation.

In October 2024, during attendance at an IMF conference in Washington, D.C., a U.S. court issued an arrest warrant against Mansur related to a $31.9 million arbitration case involving Bangladesh; however, this warrant was subsequently suspended.

Known for his “direct and unfiltered” commentary on Bangladesh’s banking system, Mansur has faced criticism. His statements have cast doubt on the stability of certain financial institutions and were labeled “counterproductive” by National Bank Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo. In June 2025, allegations emerged accusing Mansur of conflicts of interest and regulatory excesses concerning actions taken against mobile financial service provider Nagad, raising questions about impartiality within Bangladesh’s fintech regulatory framework.

Regarding accusations that he leveraged his position to acquire a Tk45 crore property in Dubai for his daughter Mehreen Sarah Mansur, Mansur refuted involvement, clarifying that the purchase occurred prior to his governorship and that his name appears solely as her father on official documents.