Adviser Confident of Repatriating Laundered Funds This Year

“We are actively working to initiate the process of bringing back the laundered money as soon as possible. To facilitate this, we will sign agreements with the relevant countries,” he stated.

Dr. Ahmed made the comments after presiding over a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Procurement, held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room in the Bangladesh Secretariat.

When asked about the feasibility of recovering all the laundered money, the Finance Adviser acknowledged the enormity of the task. “The total amount is substantial, and it is dispersed across various countries. Additionally, some legal complexities must be navigated to recover these funds,” he explained.

He also indicated that more detailed information would be available next month, with the Bangladesh Bank expected to provide further insights on the matter.

Asked whether repatriating billions of dollars within the year was realistic, Dr. Salehuddin maintained an optimistic outlook, emphasizing that the government was determined to recover as much as possible.

In a related development, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday directed authorities to intensify efforts to recover laundered funds. He issued the directive during a meeting on anti-money laundering at the State Guest House Jamuna.

According to Professor Yunus’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, the Chief Adviser emphasized that the money laundered abroad was rightfully the property of Bangladesh’s citizens, and its return must be prioritized. He also announced that a high-level meeting on the repatriation of laundered funds would be held monthly. Additionally, another meeting will take place after Eid-ul-Fitr to assess the progress of these efforts.

In response to queries, Professor Yunus reaffirmed that the return of the laundered money remains the government's top priority and that it must be recovered at any cost.