The BNP yesterday demanded an international probe to find those who siphoned money out of the country to Swiss banks and to ensure punishment for the culprits.
“Prime Minister said she would unveil the list of those who had deposited money there. We are demanding an international probe to identify theses people who siphoned money out of the country,” said the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Fakhrul made the demand in reply to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who on Friday said the government knows the details of those who laundered money abroad and the money would be brought back. Addressing a progrqamme at National Press Club demanding the whereabouts of missing BNP leader Chowhdury Alam, Fakhrul said: “Who deposited what amount of money can be known if an international probe takes place. But the government would not investigate because they are the ones who deposited money there.”
He also alleged that several ruling party men plundered money from the country’s capital markets, financial institutions and the hallmark scandal, and smuggled the money abroad.
“They used the smuggled money to construct residential areas in Canada. Awami League leaders have built their houses there and even created second homes in Malaysia... They themselves have been laundering money and now they again question who has money in Swiss banks.”
Terming the current parliament illegal, Fakhrul said, “As there is no representation of people, so this parliament is not peoples’ parliament. Parliament leader said this house was an idle house because the opposition party played constructive role.”
He also added the illegal government has passed a budget on Sunday where scope of whitening black money remained intact. “This budget was passed to plunder more money out of the peoples’ pocket.”
The party spokesman further alleged that the Awami League leader had been sheltering criminal godfathers and the whole country was now being turned into a kingdom of criminals.
“There are two sort of laws prevailing in the country—one for the opposition party and the other for the ruling party. We were obstructed to hold rallies and processions in the capital while the ruling party men holding processions blocking the streets.”
Fakhrul said they have failed to wage proper movement after the abduction of BNP leader Chowdhury Alam. “If we could wage tough movement against abduction since the beginning, then it would be possible to resist the trend. Unfortunately, we failed to do so.”
Fakhrul also said the civil society members were now in fear of repression.