https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/249370/all-efforts-under-way-to-bring-back-laundered-money-govt

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’ press secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday said that bringing back the laundered money from abroad was a tough task, but the interim government was working in this regard using all possible ways.

‘We have enough efforts to recover the laundered money. When Professor Muhammad Yunus visited New York, the issue of bringing back the laundered money from abroad was a major agenda in his meetings with heads of different countries and organisations, including the World Bank and the IMF,’ Shafiqul said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

He said that, in addition, the government also discussed the issue with many foreign envoys of Western countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland in Dhaka.

‘We are trying our best. Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit is working on it. In the past month, finance advisor and central bank governor discussed the issue at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund held in Washington,’ he said.

He said that the government was also discussing the matter with the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US.

‘This is a very tough task, but all of our efforts are going on. We want to get back the money anyhow. The money is peoples’ money and we hope that it will be spent for the wellbeing of the country’s people if returned [to Bangladesh],’ he said.

He said that a kind of competition over money laundering began during the ousted Awami League government.

‘The interim government is working to bring back that money. A high-level committee has been formed to find out how much money has been laundered. Detailed information can be found in the report of that committee,’ he added.

Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman on Saturday, addressing a programme, said that Bangladesh lost approximately $13 billion every year to illicit financial outflows, creating significant challenges in recovering this vast amount.

Responding to a question about the jail killing day, Shafiqul Alam said that November 3 was a very sad day. ‘The role of the four national leaders in the Liberation War was huge.’

‘We remember them. The Awami League hid their works, mainly to show the achievements of one person. We acknowledge the contribution of the four national leaders,’ he said.

Responding to a question about the recent attack on the Jatiya Party office in Dhaka, deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said that the government did not support any kind of political violence.

‘The decision on the Jatiya Party is political. The police are investigating the attack on the Jatiya Party office. The government condemns any kind of violence,’ he said.

Regarding Saturday’s incident of the cancellation of a drama show at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the press secretary said, ‘We condemn the incident. The chief of the Shilpakala Academy has been given the responsibility of investigation. He will investigate and submit a report.’