Dhaka: Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, announced that stringent actions are being enforced against individuals who have embezzled bank funds over the past 16 years, ensuring that no one involved will be exempt from accountability.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Chowdhury shared these insights during an exclusive interview at the Ministry of Finance at Bangladesh Secretariat. He mentioned that several individuals involved in the embezzlement have already been apprehended, while others remain under close surveillance. Highlighting the arrest of former Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat, he noted that loans distributed during Barkat’s leadership are under intense scrutiny by the current government.
Dr. Chowdhury, who oversees the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that the government’s scrutiny extends beyond Janata Bank to all financial institutions. He assured that the nation would be updated on developments in due time. The interim government, he mentioned, is actively engaging in mutual legal assistance agreements with various countries to combat money laundering, and will enact laws to deter future attempts at laundering money abroad.
A high-level committee, led by the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, is working diligently to recover funds siphoned overseas over the last 16 years. Dr. Chowdhury explained the complexity involved due to differing legal systems in countries like Switzerland, the UAE, Qatar, Singapore, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, which complicates repatriation efforts.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Chowdhury expressed optimism, citing Bangladesh’s advantage with Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who holds significant international respect. He conveyed that, under Dr. Yunus’s leadership, the government is nearing financial success, unaffected by the typical economic downturns following political upheaval.
Discussing economic reforms, Dr. Chowdhury highlighted the necessity of separating policy-making and revenue collection duties within the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to eliminate conflicts of interest. He described these reforms as crucial and groundbreaking.
Regarding concerns about rising medicine prices post-Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country status in 2026, Dr. Chowdhury reassured that the impact would be minimal. He explained that the majority of medicines produced domestically are generic, with expired patents, and Bangladesh is already part of the global value chain for some patented medicines.
Dr. Chowdhury concluded with a stern warning to potential money launderers, stating that future offenders will be deterred from such acts through vigilant measures.