The United States Secret Service will train officials from six Bangladeshi agencies to enhance their capabilities in combating money laundering and terror financing.
Around 60 officials from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), four divisions of Bangladesh Police—including the Criminal Investigation Department—along with the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Department of Narcotics Control, and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) will participate in the training, which will take place in two phases.
An English language daily quoting an official from the BFIU reported that 20 BFIU officials would join the training.
A US Secret Service delegation is expected to arrive in Bangladesh to lead the sessions.
The interim government has recently established a task force, led by the Bangladesh Bank governor, focused on recovering laundered funds. In a recent Financial Times interview, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur alleged that tycoons connected to the former Sheikh Hasina administration collaborated with intelligence agencies to funnel an estimated $17 billion (Tk 2 trillion) out of the country's banking sector.
During a farewell meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday, US Charge d’Affaires Helen LaFave reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to aiding Bangladesh in repatriating stolen funds.
LaFave emphasised ongoing US support, including advisory resources, noting, "Repatriating stolen funds is challenging but achievable." Prof Yunus voiced optimism, stating, "We will definitely make it happen."
Since the departure of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, the BFIU, ACC, NBR, BSEC, and other regulatory bodies have ramped up investigations into prominent business figures alleged to have engaged in money laundering overseas.