Atiur avoids answering questions about bank scams
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, a department of the Bangladesh Bank, has got the membership of Egmont Group, an international gathering of financial intelligence units.
BB officials said the membership of the group would help Bangladesh in getting global support in fighting money-laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes.
The BFIU secured the membership on Wednesday at an annual general meeting of Egmont Group in Sun City of South Africa, BB governor Atiur Rahman told reporters at a briefing at the central bank’s headquarters in the capital on Thursday.
The BB governor, however, concluded the briefing abruptly without replying to the questions from reporters that what measures the central bank took in recovering the laundered money swindled by Hallmark Group and Bismillah Group from different banks.
Atiur said the country got one step forward by securing the membership of Egmont Group as it would help to stop money-laundering and terrorist financing.
From now on, the BFIU will be able to exchange information about money-laundering among the 131 member countries of the group, he said.
The BFIU will be attached with the secured web site of the financial intelligence units of the 131 countries, he said.
BB executive director M Mahfuzur Rahman at the press briefing said the number of members of Egmont Group now stood at 132 and from now on Bangladesh would get information related to money-laundering, terrorist financing and money which had been laundered aboard.
He said, ‘The scope of exchanging the information through secure web site will play a significant role in preventing money-laundering, terrorist financing and bringing back siphoned off money.’
BB adviser Allah Malik Kazmi said that Egmont Group was like an elite club and the BFIU would exchange information with other member countries of the group.
Atiur remained silent when a number of reporters asked what steps the BB took in tackling massive money-laundering in the domestic banking sector.
The reported also wanted to know from him about the BB’s steps in recovering the money swindled by Hallmark Group and Bismillah Group.
The BB governor requested the reporters to ask him only about the matter related to getting membership of Egmont Group.
The reporters, however, asked the governor whether the BB had taken any step against BASIC Bank loan scam.
At one stage, Atiur along with the BB’s top officials left the conference room concluding the press conference hastily.
-With New Age input
