The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is facing difficulties in bringing laundered money back to the country as the developed countries where the money is located are not cooperating on the matter, ACC officials have said.
ACC Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah said huge amounts of laundered money from Bangladesh had been seized in several countries, including Canada and Malaysia, but the money will not be returned until trials related to legal cases with regard to the money in the countries are completed.
“Developed countries talk about transparency, but they won't provide information on money laundering,” he alleged.
The ACC high official was speaking at a views-exchange with reporters on Monday on the occasion of the commission's 18th anniversary.
The ACC chairman also said problems coordinating between several government agencies were leading to delays.
“We cannot directly communicate with countries where money is being laundered. In order to get information about money laundering, we have to coordinate with the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) under Bangladesh Bank, the Security Division under the Home Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and other organizations,” he said.
ACC Commissioner Mozammel Haque Khan said: “Although six more money laundering-related institutions of the government are working, everyone wants to know what the ACC has done against money laundering. We have written to the government to amend the law. The issue will be resolved only if the government considers our statement to be appropriate and changes the law (to ease coordination).”
On March 6, 2022, the High Court reprimanded the ACC for its consistent failure to haul money launderers back to the country and bring them to book.