Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Thursday that Switzerland would welcome if any initiative is taken by Bangladesh's interim government for bringing back siphoned off money to the country from abroad.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury made the discloser to the media after Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli met with BNP leaders at the party chairperson's political office at Gulshan in the capital.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led his party's side during the meeting with the Swiss envoy.
"We (BNP) have cordially discussed with the Swiss ambassador. They (Swiss ambassador and his team) wanted to know about the changing scenario of the country and future political and economic roadmaps of Bangladesh," he said.
He said that during the discussion, the Swiss envoy informed the BNP that their (Swiss) government's policy about helping in bringing back laundered money home from abroad remained as usual.
Mr Amir Khasru Mahmud further said that over US$ 100 billion was siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh over the past 15 years.
He said that the Swiss envoy reiterated his country's commitment to help Bangladesh in its efforts to bring back siphoned off money from Switzerland to Bangladesh.
"They (Swiss ambassador and his team) wanted to know our (BNP) opinions about the future of Bangladesh," he continued.
He said that BNP has given their opinions to the Swiss envoy on how they (Switzerland) could assist Bangladesh in rebuilding institutions that have collapsed during the past 15 years.
Asked about the duration of the present interim government, he replied, "Usually foreign diplomats talk about the duration of interim government. We (BNP) have said earlier that people of the country are the owner of Bangladesh. The interim government will hold election after a logical time."
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