SANGSAD BHABAN : Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JA) that an estimated US$234 billion was siphoned off from Bangladesh during the tenure of the previous fascist government.
“According to the White Paper Preparation Committee formed by the interim government, the volume of illicit financial outflows from Bangladesh between 2009 and 2023 is estimated at US$234 billion, which averages US$16 billion annually (approximately Taka 1.8 lakh crore),” he said.
The premier disclosed this while replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker from Cumilla-9 constituency Md Abul Kalam in the House with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, in the chair.
As the laundered money has reportedly been transferred to multiple countries, he said, steps are being taken to strengthen information exchange, asset identification and mutual legal assistance with the concerned countries to recover the funds.
Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said that initially 10 countries have been identified as destinations of the laundered money.
These are the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong-China, he said.
Of them, agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) have already been reached with three countries-Malaysia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, the Leader of the House said, adding, processes are underway to sign similar agreements with the remaining seven countries.
He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working closely with all relevant ministries and agencies in this regard.
Regarding action against those involved in money laundering, the premier said an inter-agency task force has already been formed under the leadership of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB).
He said legal proceedings are ongoing to recover laundered money in 11 identified and priority cases.
For investigation and inquiry into the cases, Tarique Rahman said, 11 joint investigation teams (JITs) have been formed under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in coordination with Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police, the Central Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.
Presenting statistics on seized assets, the Prime Minister said that courts have ordered attachment and freezing of movable and immovable assets worth Taka 57,168 crore 9 lakh within the country.
Besides, assets worth Taka 13,278 crore 13 thousand 13 lakh have been attached and frozen abroad following the court orders, he added.
In total, the premier said, assets worth approximately Taka 70,446 crore 22 lakh have been attached and frozen both at home and abroad.
Providing updates on cases, he said that 141 cases have been filed so far to recover laundered money, of which charge sheets have been submitted in 15 cases and verdicts have been delivered in six cases.
The Prime Minister said that his government is giving highest priority to the recovery of laundered assets abroad as part of a broader strategy to combat corruption, money laundering and financial crimes.
Tarique Rahman said that publishing a comprehensive white paper on money laundering and corruption carried out during the previous fascist Awami League regime, and taking legal action against those identified, have been emphasized in the government’s election manifesto.
