Government Expands Global Drive on Illicit Funds

The government of Bangladesh has intensified its efforts to recover money allegedly laundered abroad, with Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) sent to 23 countries so far, while a further 21 requests are currently in the pipeline.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury informed Parliament of these developments on Wednesday (22 April) during the question-and-answer session. He was responding to a written query from an opposition Member of Parliament representing the Chapainawabganj-3 constituency.

According to the minister, the authorities have prioritised the recovery of illicitly transferred assets as part of a broader national strategy to combat financial crimes and strengthen governance in the banking and financial sector. He also emphasised that preventive mechanisms are being reinforced to reduce the risk of future capital flight.

To coordinate these efforts, a 12-member inter-agency task force has been formed under the chairmanship of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The body brings together key regulatory, enforcement, and intelligence agencies to ensure a unified approach in tackling money laundering cases and tracing illicit financial flows.

Following the recommendations of the task force, the government identified 11 priority cases under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. These cases were selected on the basis of their national significance and potential impact on financial integrity.

For investigation and evidence gathering, 11 Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) have been constituted. These teams operate under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with support from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Bangladesh Police, the Central Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.

Officials stated that the coordinated framework is intended to improve efficiency in cross-border cooperation, particularly in tracking complex financial networks involving multiple jurisdictions.

Summary of Key Measures

The government’s strategy reflects an increasingly structured approach to tackling illicit financial flows, combining international legal cooperation with domestic investigative coordination. Authorities have indicated that efforts will continue both to repatriate stolen assets and to strengthen institutional safeguards against future financial crimes.