The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has announced that domestic and foreign assets worth a total of Tk76,000 crore belonging to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family and 10 industrial groups have been frozen.
The agency stated that these assets were frozen as part of a joint investigation conducted over allegations of illegal wealth accumulation, tax evasion, and money laundering. Additionally, various initiatives have been taken to repatriate assets laundered abroad.
The head of BFIU Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun disclosed this information on Wednesday (July 15) during the publication ceremony of the agency’s annual report at the head office of Bangladesh Bank.
He informed that the frozen assets include Tk57,000 crore located within the country and Tk19,000 crore located abroad.
The BFIU chief said: "Efforts are underway to recover the wealth stolen from the country. We hope to deliver positive progress or good news regarding this by the end of this year."
Responding to a question, he stated that political identity is not considered during investigations and financial intelligence operations. Bank accounts of relevant individuals or institutions are frozen whenever suspicious financial transactions or information on money laundering are uncovered.
"We do not look at political affiliations. Bank accounts are frozen as soon as they appear suspicious. If anyone from the interim government is involved in such activities, that will also come to light in the investigation."
According to the BFIU, a joint investigation team was formed during the tenure of the interim government to investigate allegations of illegal wealth accumulation, tax evasion, and money laundering against Sheikh Hasina’s family and 10 industrial groups.
The business groups under investigation are S Alam, Beximco, Nabil, Summit, Orion, Nassa, Bashundhara, Dr HBM Iqbal’s Premier Group, Sikder Group, and former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed’s Aramit Group.
According to BFIU data, alongside freezing assets based on investigation reports, multiple lawsuits have been filed.
Furthermore, activities are ongoing to secure contracts with international legal aid firms and obtain cooperation from the authorities of relevant countries to repatriate offshore assets.
The agency stated that coordinated domestic and international efforts are continuing to identify and recover assets laundered abroad.
The BFIU expressed optimism that further progress in this regard will become visible by the end of the year.