TIB, others call for immediate freeze

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and its four UK-based anti-corruption peers have called for an immediate freeze on illegal assets held by Bangladeshis in foreign countries.
Bangladeshis have held huge ill-gotten gains in countries like the UK, the US, Switzerland, EU states, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the UAE.
This step aims to initiate a process of recovering money smuggled from Bangladesh to these destinations, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.
In a joint letter to the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the TI-UK, UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, International Lawyers Project, Spotlight on Corruption, and TIB highlighted the importance of fostering active collaboration with the Bangladesh government.
Additionally, they emphasised the importance of working together to ensure that those who possess illegal assets are held accountable and to facilitate the return of these assets.
This initiative is viewed as a crucial step towards creating a future for the envisioned "New Bangladesh" that is transparent, accountable, democratic and free from corruption.
TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "Most of the countries where corrupt money and assets from Bangladesh have been laundered to are among our development, trade and investment partners who are committed to fighting corruption nationally and internationally."
"We particularly call upon UK, USA, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, EU governments as well as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the UAE to freeze such assets as the step to repatriate the same to Bangladesh and hold the perpetrators to account."

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