HC wants to know whether govt and ACC sought any info on Bangladeshis’ deposits to Swiss banks

The High Court today (August 11, 2022) wanted to know whether the government and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have sought any specific information on the money deposited with Swiss banks by Bangladeshi citizens.

The HC ordered state counsel Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan to convey this court about this issue by next Sunday (August 14, 2022).

It also fixed that day (August 14, 2022) for passing further order on this matter.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order on a suomuto (voluntary) move following reports published on different newspapers including The Daily Star on the statement made by Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard.

Nathalie Chuard reportedly said Bangladesh has never sought any specific information on the money deposited with the banks of Switzerland by Bangladeshi citizens.

"We have provided the government with all available information on how to reach an agreement on these matters, but no request has been made about any particular funds," she said at the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh Talk at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday (August 10, 2022).

Contacted, DAG Amin Uddin Manik told The Daily Star that he will inquire about this issue from Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and will inform the HC.

Following a writ petition, the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim on February 28 last year wanted to know the names, addresses, and current status of the Bangladeshis who deposited laundered money in overseas banks.

The court asked the authorities and the ACC to give details of such individuals and organisations to it by March 30 last year.

But a little progress has been made since then.

The Daily Star