Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed indicated that the government is prioritising the repatriation of laundered money and is seeking technical assistance from Washington to aid the process.
He mentioned that there is already a task force in place, and discussions have been held with the governor of Bangladesh Bank.
"Some technical assistance will be required," he said, referring to the governor’s recent visit to Washington and the upcoming government delegation’s trip. "This is our priority, and work is ongoing."
He made these remarks in response to questions from journalists following a meeting of the advisory council committee on public procurement at ministry on Sunday (October 20).
When asked about the recent demands from political leaders to form a commission to retrieve laundered money, the finance adviser clarified that a task force is already active on this issue.
"There is no need for a separate commission at this point," he said, citing the existing task force and a national committee focused on the recovery of smuggled assets.
When asked how soon the laundered money might be returned, Salehuddin replied, "This process has already begun, but it is not something that can happen overnight. This money has been out of the country for years."
On market conditions, journalists pointed out that while there has been some relief in the egg market after recent imports, prices of vegetables remain high. In response, the adviser said that vegetables are seasonal and assured that relief would come soon.
"We are doing everything we can to stabilise the market," he said, mentioning ongoing efforts by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and other agencies to ensure supply through various initiatives.
Regarding accusations of the government’s failure to break price-fixing syndicates, Salehuddin was diplomatic, saying, "I won’t comment on failure or success."
Meanwhile, the task force dedicated to recovering laundered assets was reconstituted on September 29, with the governor of Bangladesh Bank as its chair.
The task force includes representatives from key agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), among others.
The task force is tasked with identifying smuggled assets, assisting in investigations, overcoming legal and procedural obstacles, and taking steps to bring back the assets to Bangladesh. It will also work to improve internal coordination and enhance the capacity of relevant institutions to recover smuggled funds. The deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, Md Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, will coordinate the task force’s activities, with BFIU providing secretarial support.
The previous task force, formed in May 2022, was reconstituted twice, once in January 2023 and again in September 2023, to strengthen efforts in bringing back laundered money. The current task force includes senior officials from a wide range of government bodies, including the Attorney General’s Office, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Board of Revenue.