The interim government says it has sought assistance from the British government to probe suspected offshore funds linked to allies of Bangladesh’s former premier, Sheikh Hasina. This is happening as the administration under the country’s Nobel Laureate, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, lately escalated force against members of Hasina’s party, which has been accused of corruption in its ranks.
Central Bank Governor Ahsan Mansur said the government hopes to discover if Hasina and her ministers have siphoned £13 billion ($17 billion) abroad through banking channels. Besides the UK, the investigation by Dhaka has requested assistance from the US, Singapore, and the UAE.
Mansur pointed at the support from the UK government, saying that the High Commissioner was in his office and that they offered lots of technical assistance. ’ He said there are plans to investigate the acquisition of assets, including a block of UK property worth £150 million by a former land minister from Hasina’s administration. “It could never have been pulled off without the complicity of the prime minister,” he said further.
Yunus has also sought the cooperation of the UK High Commission in Bangladesh to help trace the funds spent in the micro-credit program. His press secretary, Shafique Alam, maintained that Bangla’s authorities intend to get back what they estimate has been spirited out of the country.
Back in June this year, Tlux, the UK branch of Transparency International, said that Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s property portfolio should be considered as “miss Junud’’[“unexplained wealth”], which should be investigated. Chowdhury has been accused by the Financial Times of owning over 280 assets valued at more than £150m.
In response to the above, Chowdhury, through his lawyer, angrily defended himself, saying he had nothing to hide or engage himself in any sort of embezzlement.
