The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has revealed that domestic and overseas assets worth Tk76,000 crore linked to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's family and 10 business groups have been frozen.
According to the BFIU, the assets were frozen as part of joint investigations into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation, tax evasion, and money laundering.
BFIU Chief Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun disclosed the information on July 15 during the publication ceremony of the agency's annual report at the headquarters of Bangladesh Bank.
According to the BFIU, assets worth Tk57,000 crore are located within Bangladesh, while assets worth Tk19,000 crore are held abroad.
The BFIU chief said efforts were underway to recover assets allegedly taken out of the country illegally and expressed hope that positive developments could emerge by the end of this year.
Mamun also said political affiliation is not taken into consideration during investigations. He stated that bank accounts linked to any individual or institution would be frozen if suspicious financial transactions or information related to money laundering were detected.
A joint investigation team was formed during the tenure of the interim government to investigate allegations against Sheikh Hasina's family and the 10 business groups.
The groups under investigation include S Alam, Beximco, Nabil, Summit, Orion, Nassa, Bashundhara, Premier Group, Sikder Group, and Aramit Group.
According to BFIU data, lawsuits have also been filed in addition to freezing assets based on investigation findings.
The BFIU is continuing efforts to cooperate with international legal firms and seek assistance from authorities in relevant countries to recover assets held abroad.
Ref/Photo: Dhaka Tribune.
