Staff Correspondent
Unlocking of 298 frozen bank accounts becomes uncertain as the government has retracted its decision of opening those accounts immediately.
Yesterday Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit said “The decision of opening the frozen accounts is likely to be delayed due to legal complications.”
Merit of each case needs to be examined to decide which account should be unlocked and which not, he said, adding “Decision of ope-ning frozen accounts will be taken on the basis of case to case merit because all accounts should not get blanket coverage.”
The Minister, however, refrained from giving any deadline for taking decisions, but said, “We’re trying to do it as soon as possible.” About the time of unlocking these accounts, he said that no deadline can be uttered as it is a matter of time.
About Tk 1200 crore retrieved siphoned off money, the Finance Minister reiterated the government’s decision that the retrieved money will not be returned to their owners who illegally traffic-ked those abroad.
About reasons for unlocking accounts, he also said “As state of emergency is not operative in the country right now, the frozen accounts could be unlocked.”
Earlier on January 20, after holding a meeting with Asian Develop-ment Bank (ADB) Vice-President Xiaoyu Zhao, Finance Minister AMA Muhit said the frozen bank accounts will be unlocked within one week.
The caretaker government led by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed froze these bank accounts in its purge against corruption in high places and recovered Tk 1200 crore siphoned off money from abroad.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
