Bangladesh so far traced Tk40,000cr worth assets built with laundered money: CA Press Wing
The CIC is working to confiscate these assets in favour of Bangladesh and ensure punishment for those involved in money laundering
Bangladesh has so far traced nearly Tk40,000 crore worth of assets abroad that were accumulated through money laundered from Bangladesh, the chief adviser's press wing said today (17 August).
National Board of Revenue's (NBR) Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) Director General Ahsan Habib said the information was obtained through investigations carried out since January this year in seven cities across five countries.
At the time, Ahsan Habib said after preparing with information collected from various sources within the country, CIC investigators visited those countries and gathered detailed information through on-the-ground inspections.
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Alongside the CIC official, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan presented these findings to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna.
In addition, passports obtained in exchange for money have been identified in nine countries, totaling 352 held by some Bangladeshis.
The countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, North Macedonia, Malta, St Lucia, and Turkey.
Stating that further investigations are ongoing, the CIC official added, "So far, we have identified 346 properties built abroad in the names of individuals and institutions by laundering money from Bangladesh. This is only a partial picture of our investigation."
He said the CIC is working to confiscate these assets in favour of Bangladesh and ensure punishment for those involved in money laundering.
He also mentioned that more than six international organisations are cooperating with Bangladesh in this process.
"What we have uncovered so far is just the tip of the iceberg. We still have a large amount of information that will take more time to fully reveal," he said.
Ahsan Habib further stated that individuals involved in money laundering had, during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, placed their own people in the central bank's database (CBS) management process and erased large amounts of information.
The hopeful part, he said, is that the CIC has now developed the expertise to recover much of that deleted data.
Looting economic sector a 'grave treason', looters must face law: CA Yunus
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus assured that the government will provide full cooperation to bring back the country's assets laundered abroad.
Terming this looting of the nation's economic sector an act of "grave treason," the chief adviser said, "To build a better country for future generations, these looters must be brought under the law."
"We must set an example so that no one can ever again loot the country's wealth and build properties abroad," he said.
After receiving the details, the chief adviser said proper measures must be taken to bring those involved in money laundering under the law through coordinated efforts of the ACC, CIC, CID of police, and other relevant authorities.
Directing the CIC to continue its investigation, the chief adviser said they must go as deep as possible and expand inquiries to other potential countries.
He added, "The nation must be shown how some people plundered the country's wealth. For this, all agencies must work together in unity."
