List of 13,931 citizens with dual passports submitted to High Court

A list of 13,931 citizens with dual passports in the country has been submitted to the High Court. 

The superintendent of police (immigration) of the special branch (SB) on Wednesday submitted a report to the attorney general's office in this regard.

The High Court bench headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder is scheduled to hear the report.

The High Court on 21 December last year sought a list of names and addresses of Bangladeshi nationals who are holding dual citizenship and passports, and have purchased homes abroad through money laundering.  

Following reports published in the newspaper, the High Court bench of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel issued a suo motu rule seeking information related to money launderers. 

According to the published report, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that it was not the politicians but the government officials who siphoned off money abroad. 

"I thought the number of politicians would be higher, but I was surprised by the information that came to me, although it was an initial information," he said adding, "Many of our government officials have homes there and their sons and daughters live there."

"I have received 28 cases and four of them are politicians," he said.

Besides, there are some ready-made garment traders. We are collecting more information. The foreign minister said such situation not only persists in Canada, but also in Malaysia. 

However, it is very difficult to get information. The information that comes out in various media that thousands of crores of money are being laundered, in fact the number is not that much.

Mentioning the responsibility of the foreign governments, the foreign minister said that they do not give us the information about who keep the money in the Swiss bank. They talk about transparency, but don't give information, he said referring the role as a double standard.

The High Court issued the rule asking why it would not be illegal for the defendants to take appropriate action as per the law against the government officials and businessmen involved in money laundering.