Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that the government is actively considering the formation of a specialized agency dedicated to recovering assets that have been laundered and sent abroad. This move, inspired by similar agencies in other countries, aims to efficiently and effectively reclaim money siphoned off during the previous government.
During a question-and-answer session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, the finance minister responded to a starred question from treasury bench member Md Jalal Uddin (Chandpur-2). Khosru emphasized that a significant amount of money was laundered to various countries during the previous administration.
To address this issue, a 12-member inter-agency task force was established under the chairmanship of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. This task force aims to bring back money laundered abroad and prevent future incidents. Based on their recommendations, 11 priority cases were identified under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
These cases involve high-profile individuals and groups, including former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, S Alam Group, Beximco Group, Sikder Group, NASA Group, Orion Group, Bashundhara Group, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family, Nabil Group, HBM Iqbal, and Summit Group. To investigate these cases, 11 Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) have been formed under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with representatives from the CID of Bangladesh Police, the Central Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue, and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department.
As a result of these efforts, a total of Taka 76,983.93 crore of movable and immovable assets have been attached and frozen by courts both in Bangladesh and abroad as of July 2026. Additionally, Bangladesh has sent 23 Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) to respective countries to implement orders issued by Bangladeshi courts. A total of 142 cases have been filed to recover laundered money, with charge sheets submitted in 16 cases and verdicts delivered in six.
The government has also taken steps to sign Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) with 10 countries identified as destinations for laundered money, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Switzerland, Thailand, and Hong Kong-China. MLATs with Malaysia and Hong Kong-China are currently at the final stage.
To further strengthen coordination in asset recovery efforts, the government has established a Stolen Asset Recovery Division under the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). The government is also receiving advice, technical assistance, and training from foreign countries and international agencies, including the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), the World Bank's Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Centre for Asset Recovery, and the US Department of Justice. Bangladesh has joined the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network) and the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP).
