The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has uncovered assets worth approximately Tk40,000 crore that were illegally accumulated abroad through money laundering.
This discovery follows an investigation conducted across seven cities in five countries since January of this year.
Director General of CIC Ahsan Habib briefed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on these findings during a presentation at the State Guest House, Jamuna, on Sunday, with NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan present at the time.
The probe revealed that passports from nine countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, North Macedonia, Malta, St Lucia, and Turkey, were acquired by some Bangladeshis in exchange for money.
These countries were identified based on the information gathered from various sources in Bangladesh, with CIC officials visiting these nations to gather detailed data.
Habib highlighted that the investigation is ongoing and so far, 346 properties linked to individuals and organisations involved in money laundering have been identified. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Habib stated, adding that more discoveries are expected as further investigations unfold.
He also revealed that the CIC is working to seize these assets and bring the individuals involved to justice. Over six international organisations have been assisting Bangladesh in this process.
The investigation has also revealed that individuals involved in these activities managed to manipulate central bank databases during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, causing the loss of crucial financial data. However, Habib stated that the CIC had developed the skills to recover the erased information.
After being briefed, Chief Adviser Yunus emphasised that the individuals responsible for such large-scale corruption and money laundering must be identified and brought to justice by coordinating with relevant authorities, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), CIC, and police’s CID.
“The people behind this economic plunder must face the law, and measures must be taken to prevent anyone from misappropriating the country’s wealth in the future,” he stated.
He also stressed that all relevant agencies must work together to ensure the return of the looted assets. “This is a severe act of treason against the country. To build a better nation for future generations, those involved must be held accountable,” Yunus concluded.