by Asif Showkat Kallol (Dhaka Bureau)
Bangladesh’s prime minister has pledged that the recovery of allegedly laundered public funds and the prosecution of those responsible will be carried out strictly according to existing laws, rejecting any return to past practices of coercion or arbitrary action.
Tarique Rahman told parliament on Wednesday that the government, elected by the people, has a duty to bring back money siphoned abroad and use it for the benefit of citizens. ‘This is the people’s money,’ he said. ‘We will take whatever steps are necessary to return it, but the law will take its own course. All processes will be followed legally.’
Speaking during the first question-and-answer session of the new parliament, Rahman responded to supplementary questions from lawmakers. He stated that an estimated $234bn had been laundered from Bangladesh during the previous Awami League government’s rule, describing it as a massive drain on national resources.
The prime minister assured the nation that the government would pursue any measures required to repatriate the funds and emphasised that lists of those involved in money laundering and embezzlement were being prepared by the relevant government agencies, not by his office. He contrasted the current approach with what he called past instances where individuals were detained and forced to sign statements without regard for legal norms or ethics.
‘We want to respect the rule of law,’ Rahman said. ‘We will conduct trials on the basis of the law so that no one is deprived of justice.’ The session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom.
The Author:
Asif Showkat Kallol: Works for a German-based online outlet, The Mirror Asia as Head of News and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
