A special law will be enacted very soon to expedite the repatriation of laundered money, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
“You will see this law within the next week,” he said during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in the capital on Monday afternoon.
He said the interim government has announced that it will enact a special law within the next week to return the “$234 billion” that was laundered during the tenure of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. This law will be passed through an ordinance.
He said: “The interim government's main goal was to find a way to bring back the laundered money. To this end, an 11-member task force was formed in September, headed by the governor of the central bank.”
Shafiqul Alam said: "An important meeting was held today (Monday) to review the progress of the efforts to bring back the money. The meeting was led by the chief adviser himself. Several important decisions were taken there."
The press secretary said: "The interim government has been active from the beginning to recover the laundered money. Professor Yunus has been saying from the beginning that this is the money of the people of Bangladesh. This will be among our top priorities."
He further said: “The government and the task force are continuing discussions with various law firms. This law will be helpful in reaching agreements with law firms. Talks have already been held with 200 law firms, but no final selection has been made yet. A selection will be made through a legal process, where agreements will be made with about 30 law firms. Discussions are ongoing on this.”
Tk400 crore tuition fee
Shafiqul Alam said: “It is important to know exactly how much money has been laundered abroad. The chief adviser has instructed us to find out in detail the information we have received.”
In the meeting, the NBR chairman said that many students go abroad to study. In one case, it was seen that about Tk400-500 crore was sent as tuition fees, which could be part of money laundering.
The NBR chairman made this information known at a meeting of the task force to bring back money laundered abroad with the chief advisor this morning.
Shafiqul Alam said, "Many students go to study abroad. In one case, it was seen that Tk400 crore was sent abroad as tuition fees for a semester for a boy. See how the money laundering was done. However, for the sake of investigation, we are not revealing the name of the person. How innovative the money was laundered! We knew that money was laundered through over-invoicing, under-invoicing, through the banking system or through Hundi. But it was seen that Tk400 crore were found through loopholes in some places. Does anyone in the world have tuition fees of Tk400-500 crore?"
In the meeting, the chief adviser said that this money belongs to Bangladesh and will be returned to the country as soon as possible. A high-level meeting will be held every month in this regard. Another meeting has been called after Eid. From now on, this issue will be reviewed every month, said the press secretary.
Treasures found in 6 countries
Shafiqul Alam said that huge assets have been found in the names of Sheikh Hasina and her family members in six countries.
The press secretary said that reports from two intelligence agencies have already been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Shafiqul Alam said that assets of Hasina's family members have been traced in the US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands. Tk635 crore was found in 124 bank accounts.
The press secretary said that a 60-katha plot worth Tk1.80 crore was found in the name of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family in Rajuk.
In addition, eight flats with 10% of land worth Tk8.85 crore were found.
Resignation of special assistant to the chief adviser
Professor M Aminul Islam, special assistant to the chief adviser, who has been serving in the Ministry of Education with the rank of state minister, has resigned.
He told reporters on Monday that he had sent his resignation letter to the chief adviser's office.
When asked about this, the chief adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said: "I know that he has submitted his resignation letter. But I don't know why he is resigning."
Aminul Islam was the VC of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Before that, he taught at Rajshahi University.
In late November last year, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus appointed three special assistants, including M Aminul Islam, with the rank of state minister.
It is learned that Aminul Islam has been asked to resign from the office of chief adviser.
