5 organizations write to UK Foreign Secretary to repatriate laundered money

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and four UK-based anti-corruption organizations have written to David Lammy, UK's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Development, urging him to cooperate in bringing back the money laundered from Bangladesh.

Such information was given in a press release on Tuesday (September 3).

TI-UK, UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, International Lawyers Project, Spotlight on Corruption and TIB in a joint letter to the UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Development calling on the owners of illicit financial assets to build a corruption-free, transparent, accountable and democratic future for “New Bangladesh”. The heads of the organizations called for active cooperation with the Bangladesh government to ensure accountability and bring back the smuggled money to the country.

In this regard, the executive director of TIB. Iftekharuzzaman said, all the countries where money and assets are laundered from Bangladesh are our development, trade and investment partners and they are committed to fighting corruption nationally and internationally. In order to effectively implement this promise, I call upon all these countries to immediately take necessary measures to freeze the illegal assets of all Bangladeshi individuals or organizations under their jurisdiction. To provide all-out cooperation to the Government of Bangladesh and all related institutions to bring the smuggled assets back to Bangladesh and bring the money launderers to account, especially the governments of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, European Union countries as well as the governments of Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. I invite you.

Susan Hole, executive director of Spotlight on Corruption, said the UK must deliver on its commitments to developing countries such as Bangladesh to track down money laundered in the UK and hold corrupt individuals who harbor it to account. By strengthening anti-corruption efforts at this critical time for Bangladesh, the UK will be able to play a significant role in building the country's promised democratic and inclusive future.

On the other hand, TI-UK's Director of Policy Duncan Hemze said, “We know that Bangladeshi politicians with undeclared assets and elite businessmen accused of corruption have significant assets in the UK and other countries.” The British government should work closely with allies around the world and civil society in Bangladesh to freeze the wealth of corrupt individuals and their supporters through sanctions; So that they cannot enjoy their ill-gotten wealth.

In the letter written to the British Foreign Secretary on August 30, it is said that the massive corruption of the beneficiaries under the ousted authoritarian government in Bangladesh, which is in transition, is being uncovered. The money-property smuggled by all these beneficiaries is the wealth of the citizens of Bangladesh. Along with the reconstruction of 'New Bangladesh', it is important to quickly identify and recover these national assets that have been smuggled to different countries around the world to make the country more transparent, accountable, democratic and inclusive.

The letter reiterated the UK Government's commitment and support to the Interim Government of Bangladesh and called for the urgent implementation of three issues.

First, the five anti-corruption agencies requested the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency to proactively investigate whether any money laundered by a Bangladeshi individual or company is in the UK and whether it is recoverable. chief

Secondly, the UK government is called upon to help reform the relevant institutions of Bangladesh such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Criminal Investigation Department, the National Board of Revenue, the Office of the Attorney General and law enforcement agencies, as well as building the capacity of forensic accountants and lawyers. So that these agencies can take immediate steps to identify and recover the money laundered.

Thirdly, repatriation of the wealth of the people of Bangladesh through cooperation and coordination with the countries where the money of Bangladesh has been smuggled, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the European Union, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (especially Dubai). And calls for speeding up the process of ensuring accountability for all those involved in trafficking.

Bangladesh /SBT