HC seeks list of all Bangladeshis with money in global banks as BFIU chief apologises

​​​​​The High Court on Wednesday sought a list of all Bangladeshis who have deposited money in banks across the globe, not just the Swiss banks, by 26 October this year.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat made the order while granting an apology plea of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) Head Masud Biswas for his earlier failure to follow proper procedures in filing a report on money deposited in Swiss banks to the court.

The BFIU chief prayed for an unconditional pardon for his failure and said it was an "unintentional mistake".

"Yesterday [Tuesday] you submitted a report to the court without mentioning your name, designation and signature. Is it not classless work?" the court asked.

"As you have apologised, the court pardoned you. But you have to become careful in the future," it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the same bench summoned the BFIU chief to explain the inappropriately-filed report – on the accounts maintained by Bangladeshis in Swiss banks.

In Wednesday's session, the High Court also ordered the BFIU to form a research cell to work on money laundering and recovery of laundered money. The BFIU asked to submit a detailed report on the formulation of the cell by 26 October.

"We believe that the money laundered abroad will return," the court expressed its hope.

Meanwhile, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the court that the Swiss government already verbally expressed its regret over the Swiss ambassador's 10 August statement. 

In reply, the court said it requires written documents.

On 10 August, the Swiss ambassador in Dhaka Nathalie Chuard said that they have been providing the Bangladesh government with all information regarding deposits of Bangladeshi money in Swiss banks, "but no request has been submitted regarding any particular account".

The next day the HC bench ordered the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why the government didn't seek information of deposits of Bangladesh money stashed in Swiss banks.

Later, the BFIU was also asked to submit a report in this regard in the affidavit form.

Following the HC order, BFIU submitted its report on 21 August, stating that the information regarding deposits of 67 Bangladeshis in various Swiss banks was sought from the authorities concerned in Bern.

"But the Swiss authorities only provided the details of one individual in this regard which BFIU also submitted to the ACC," BFIU said in its report.

According to the annual report of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), the amount of money in the bank parked by Bangladeshi nationals and companies was about Tk8,400 crore – around 54% more than the previous year – at the end of 2021.