The interim government of Bangladesh plans to establish a task force to recover money illegally transferred out of the country, Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced yesterday.
Speaking to journalists after meeting a delegation of buying houses at the Bangladesh Secretariat, Dr. Ahmed said the government is actively collaborating with international bodies, including the World Bank, the United States, and the United Kingdom, to bring back laundered funds.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur had earlier revealed in an interview that money from Bangladesh had been illicitly transferred to countries like Dubai and Singapore, adding to the urgency of the government’s efforts.
Dr. Ahmed confirmed that reforms have been underway since his appointment, particularly in the banking sector. “There have been visible changes,” he said, noting the actions taken against default loans and the reorganization of banks facing governance issues. Bangladesh Bank has reconstituted the boards of several banks, many of which were previously controlled by S Alam Group, a Chattogram-based conglomerate.
Dr. Ahmed highlighted the government’s steps to stabilize the prices of essential goods in trade and commerce. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reduced tariffs on importing onions and potatoes to increase supply and curb inflation. Onion import tariffs were cut to 5 percent, while potato import duties were reduced to 15 percent, effective until November 30.
