The central bank of Bangladesh has decided to investigate fictitious accounts held by Bangladeshi nationals in different Swiss banks, reports BSS.
M Mahfuzur Rahman, executive director of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of Bangladesh Bank (BB), said: “The central bank will investigate the Swiss banks' accounts which are being allegedly held by Bangladeshi people.”
According to the report, BB will investigate alleged money laundering by some Bangladeshis who supposedly deposited a huge amount of money in different banks in Switzerland in fictitious accounts.
A recent report of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) showed 62% increase within one year in the volume of money deposited by Bangladeshis in different banks in Switzerland.
SNB, the national bank of Switzerland, also said the amount of the deposited money by Bangladeshis in Swiss banks rose to 37 crore 19 lakh Swiss Franc (nearly Taka 3,163 crore 37 lakh) in 2013, which was 22 crore 89 lakh Swiss Franc (nearly Taka 1,908 crore) in 2012.
Concerned about siphoning off money from the country got momentum following the report, prompting the central bank to plan an investigation to know whether the money deposited in the Swiss banks by Bangladeshis was laundered.
Mahfuzur Rahman said: “Bangladeshi expatriates are allowed to open bank accounts abroad, but we would investigate whether those accounts are being held by people living inside the country.”
BB would require signing a memorandum of understanding with the SNB to conduct such an inquiry, the executive director said.