BMirror Desk: British Members of Parliament are expressing concerns that they may have been the targets of a “disinformation” campaign designed to undermine Ahsan Mansur, the governor of Bangladesh Bank. Mansur is currently spearheading efforts to trace funds that are allegedly laundered from Bangladesh to the UK, as reported by The Guardian.
The report, released yesterday, indicates that MPs became wary after receiving emails that included articles casting doubt on Mansur’s credibility, just before a meeting today with the 47-member all-party parliamentary group (APPG) focused on responsible tax and corruption.
Ahsan Mansur, a former official with the IMF, has been in London seeking support from the UK government and private sector to investigate billions of dollars that he claims were misappropriated by associates of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He suspects that some of these funds may have been used to purchase properties in the UK.
This visit occurs amid rising controversy surrounding Hasina’s niece, Tulip Siddiq, a former UK city minister who resigned earlier this year following a case filed against her by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
MPs are increasingly worried that the ongoing efforts to support Bangladesh’s anti-corruption initiatives could be compromised by a smear campaign targeting the BB governor. This includes articles published on a website called International Policy Digest, authored by individuals lacking verifiable journalistic credentials. The Guardian discovered that the images of the authors were stock photos.
The emails sent to the APPG, purportedly from a journalist, contained links to International Policy Digest, which featured articles discussing the apparent wealth of Mansur’s daughter and questioning why she was not under investigation.
Mansur, who has previously lived and worked in Washington, expressed his belief that those being investigated for money laundering are attempting to “diminish my reputation and target me in various ways,” according to The Guardian. He refuted the allegations, asserting that his daughter, a US citizen, has minimal ties to Bangladesh.
An APPG member, Rupa Huq, received an email from the UK public relations firm Palatine Communications, which also referenced International Policy Digest. The email implied that if Mansur were to “impugn the integrity of Tulip Siddiq,” then he and his family should also face scrutiny. Mansur stated that he had never made any remarks regarding Siddiq. He plays a significant role in the transitional government led by Muhammad Yunus, whose Anti-Corruption Commission has accused Siddiq and her family in connection with an investigation into a 2013 agreement with Russia that allegedly inflated the cost of a nuclear power plant, according to the report. Rupa characterized the email as “highly unusual” and likened it to past efforts to intimidate MPs discussing Bangladesh in parliament. She noted that both situations seemed to be attempts to “interfere with parliament and the normal duties of MPs.” APPG members have reportedly brought the emails to the attention of parliamentary cyber security advisors and the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. APPG member Phil Brickell expressed concern, stating, “If this communication is indeed an attempt to mislead UK politicians regarding a serious corruption scandal, we should be very worried.” He called on the appropriate parliamentary authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, emphasizing the need to uncover who financed this communication and the reasons behind it to better protect themselves.
A representative from Palatine Communications stated that the instructions from their client are confidential. They clarified that the email in question was sent based on their own initiative and emphasized that they have no connection to, nor knowledge of, the authorship of the article. They also noted that they never claimed the article to be an absolute truth. The spokesperson acknowledged that, similar to many articles from various media sources, it raises valid concerns regarding the current situation in Bangladesh, which they believe should be considered by Members of Parliament.
Meanwhile, a representative from International Policy Digest mentioned that the actual author of the articles preferred to remain anonymous, expressing confidence that the content is largely accurate.
