‘Govt ramps up efforts to recover stolen money’

The interim government is making significant efforts to repatriate laundered money from abroad, despite the challenges involved, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Sunday.

"The government is fully committed to bringing back the laundered funds," Alam said during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy. 

In response to questions, he shared that the Chief Adviser, during meetings with heads of state and international organisations in the U.S. last September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, emphasized that combating money laundering is a priority for his administration.

The issue has also been discussed with Western ambassadors in Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is actively involved in efforts to track and retrieve these funds, Alam noted. 

He added that the Finance Adviser and the central bank governor raised the issue in their recent annual discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and continuous consultations with the FBI are underway.

"Recovering these assets is challenging, but we are fully committed and exploring all avenues to bring the money back," Alam affirmed. 

"This is the people’s money, and its return would greatly benefit the citizens of Bangladesh," he added.

At a recent meeting on November 2, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that an estimated $12 to $15 billion has been siphoned off annually from Bangladesh during the tenure of the previous Awami League government.