More than 300 bank accounts seized in 85 days

In the last 85 days, the bank accounts of more than 300 individuals and organizations who have smuggled lakhs and crores of rupees from the country in the last 15 years have been seized. Again 100 cases have been made against S. Alam and Salman F. Rahman and such looters!

Central Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit BFIU says the embezzled money will be deposited in the coffers of Bangladesh Bank. However, why was BFIU sleeping for so long? Economists are also asking that question.

BFIU has seized the bank accounts of more than 3 hundred accused money launderers including Saiful Alam Masud of S Alam Group, Salman F Rahman of Beximcor, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan Shah Alam of Bashundhar and Aziz Khan of Summit Group in a total of 2 months and 25 days since the end of Awami misrule. Hundreds of cases have been filed. Large sums of money still remain in impounded accounts, says BFIU.

BFIU can direct the scheduled banks to freeze the bank account of any person or institution for a maximum of 7 months for 30 days and 7 times in accordance with the law.

Although at different times Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansoor said, they will do nothing but freeze the bank accounts of some people.

Economist MM Akash, who has always been a strong critic of looting in the financial sector, said that the government should settle the allegations within 7 months of money launderers or people who have not returned the smuggled money and funding for militancy in the country.

Why BFIU could not seize anyone's bank account in the previous 15 years of the interim government? Former Director General of BIBM Taufiq Ahmed Chowdhury also raised that question.

BFIU, however, says that in the past, money laundering has also been identified and brought back.