Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has announced that it is feasible to freeze assets and money laundered abroad from Bangladesh within a year if the process is accelerated. This statement was made during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy following a meeting focused on the recovery of laundered money. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Governor Mansur highlighted that while the complete legal process usually takes four to five years, intermediate steps such as freezing the assets could significantly cut down this timeline. He emphasized the importance of completing legal procedures in Bangladesh and sending mutual legal assistances (MLAs) abroad correctly to expedite the process. The meeting, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, was chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Mansur mentioned that they are currently engaged in the process of sending requests for assistance, and with international cooperation, freezing the laundered assets could be achieved more swift ly. Once assets are frozen, the legal proceedings in foreign courts, which typically require four to five years, can commence. The government has reached out to various international institutions to seek their support in repatriating laundered money to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Bank governor further discussed the management of seized funds in various banks and the handling of seized shares from several banks and companies. The protection of depositors' interests, given the financial losses incurred from bank looting, was also a key topic of discussion. In addition, it was noted that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus plans to visit the United Kingdom, where he will prioritize the money laundering issue during his discussions. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was among those present at the briefing.
