Govt to bring back money siphoned off abroad

Every year a large amount of money is siphoned off abroad from the country. Recent media reports on money deposited by Bangladeshis with Swiss banks surprised the people. There are discussions in the media on this issue. According to the reports, the amount of money being deposited with Swiss banks by Bangladeshis is increasing while the trend in the event of nationals from other countries is on the decrease. Undoubtedly, it can be observed that the money deposited by Bangladeshis is ill-earned. According to the latest data of the Swiss National Bank, Bangladeshis deposited Tk 32.36 billion with different Swiss banks till 2013, up by 62 per cent from that of the previous year.

However, we heard Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing her commitments that her government would take steps to bring back money deposited with Swiss banks by some Bangladeshis. The Prime Minister referring to recent media reports noted that her government had already taken initiatives to get the list of depositors. Speaking at a rally in the capital marking the 65th founding anniversary of Awami League, the Prime Minister looked very confident when she said the government would take steps to know the amount of deposits and bring the money back.

At the same time we want to believe that the praiseworthy initiative of the government will not face any kind of impediments, even if the members of the ruling party or their connivers are found associated with the process of siphoning off the money.

Zulekha Rabbi Chowdhury

Tantibazar, Dhaka