$234 billion laundered during 2009-23 period: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said that approximately $234 billion was illicitly transferred out of Bangladesh between 2009 and 2023, citing information from the White Paper Preparation Committee formed during the interim government period.

This amounts to an average of $16 billion per year (about Tk 1.8 trillion).

The Prime Minister, who became the member of the parliament for the first time, mentioned the data while responding to a question during his maiden PM’s question-answer session in the parliament.

The prime minister said that the his government is giving the highest priority to recovering assets smuggled abroad as a key part of its broader strategy to combat corruption, money laundering, and financial crimes.

According to the prime minister, legal proceedings are going on to recover laundered money in 11 cases identified and prioritised by an inter-agency taskforce. These cases involve 11 individuals and organisations, including family members and related entities linked to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Those named include Sheikh Hasina; former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury; S Alam Group; Beximco Group; Sikder Group; Bashundhara Group; Nasa Group; Orion Group; Nabil Group; HBM Iqbal; and Summit Group, along with their associated family members and affiliated entities.

Responding to a question from ruling party MP Md Abul Kalam, the prime minister added that the government’s election manifesto emphasised publishing a comprehensive white paper on corruption and money laundering during the previous “fascist Awami League era” and taking legal action against those identified.

Since the laundered funds are alleged to have been transferred to multiple countries, the government is strengthening information exchange, asset identification, and mutual legal assistance with relevant countries. To this end, it is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to conclude Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs).

The prime minister said that 10 countries have been initially identified as major destinations for illicit funds: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Among them, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the UAE have agreed to sign such agreements, while discussions with the remaining seven countries are ongoing.

He also presented updates on the 11 priority cases, noting that 11 joint investigation teams have been formed under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission, with participation from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the National Board of Revenue’s Central Intelligence Cell, and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.

The prime minister said that as of 25 March 2026, courts have frozen assets worth Tk 704.46 billion, including Tk 571.68 billion domestically and Tk 132.78 billion abroad. A total of 141 cases have been filed, 15 of which have seen charge sheets submitted, and six cases have reached verdicts.

In response to a supplementary question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP Mujibur Rahman about recovering laundered money, the prime minister said the current government is elected and committed to upholding the rule of law. He criticised past practices where individuals were allegedly coerced or forced into compliance.

He emphasised that the government would proceed strictly through legal means to ensure justice for all. “The law will take its own course,” he said, adding that those who laundered public money would be punished under existing laws.

Responding to another question, he said, “In simple terms, this is the people’s money. Since the people elect us, we are accountable to them and to the country. Naturally, recovering this money and spending it for the benefit of the people is one of the government’s key responsibilities.”

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com