The country’s economy is jolted as thousands of crores of taka are being siphoned off abroad from the country, said Planning Minister MA Mannan on Wednesday.
“We all know thousands of crores of taka are being siphoned off from our country. So we can’t rule out the truth,” he told a lecture on finance and planning at Agargaon in the city.
However, he said, those who work on the issue, they can tell how and in what way money is being siphoned off from the country.
“Crores of taka which were laundered from the country could be invested in our ongoing development works. We use to borrow a few amount of money from banks and other sources. But we have taken huge loan this year due to money laundering,” Mannan said.
He termed the money laundering as having a serious negative impact on the country’s overall economy, saying the government has taken various steps to prevent such crime.
“There is no separate department to check money laundering from the country 20 to 30 years ago. The issue came to light when law enforces got information that different organised criminal gangs have been funding militants in various areas across the country for a long time,” the planning minister said.
He said since then government’s different agencies, including law enforcement agencies, took up the issue serious, working hard to prevent the money laundering.
“A financial intelligence unit has been formed at Bangladesh Bank. The members of the unit are now working round the clock to foil any attempt to traffic money out of the country,” Mannan said.
He said if the manager or authority of a branch of a bank finds unusual transaction of money, he or the authority must inform the financial intelligence unit immediately.
“We are observing why opening of LC is increasing. Meanwhile, we have already held talks with chamber bodies to stop under and over valuation. We countries of Asia-Pacific zone, have also a separate body to stop money trafficking. We are also helping each other in this regard,” he said.
The planning minister said if any black money holder, who has earned money through any illegal means, lives abroad and wants shelter and incentive, it is very tough to bar him.
It's not a matter of fight, it’s a matter of discussion, he added.
“We are continuing the discussion and doing everything to reduce money laundering in the country,” he said.
Some countries will welcome those people who bring huge money and give them citizenship easily, Mannan said adding that it should be stopped.
