In an unprecedented move, the Finance Ministry has confirmed the attachment and seizure of assets valued at 66,146 crore Taka from various industrial conglomerates. Of this massive total, 55,638 crore Taka resides within the country, while 10,508 crore Taka are located overseas. Both movable and immovable assets are included in the sweep.
“Attachment” in this context means the owners no longer have any authority to sell, transfer, or access these assets, including funds in banks. The announcement reflects the Government’s intensified crackdown on money laundering and financial crimes linked to both domestic and international activities.
This development followed the 30th meeting of the National Coordination Committee for the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism, presided over by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat. During the meeting, officials examined key strategies to strengthen legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.
A major decision was to amend the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, to modernise the law and make overseas asset recovery more effective. In addition, the Ministry stressed the urgent need for priority cases to have chargesheets filed promptly and for their swift resolution.
The meeting also reviewed the work of joint investigation teams tasked with recovering overseas wealth, focusing on 11 cases designated as high priority. Officials highlighted the importance of maintaining operational efficiency to ensure that illicitly transferred funds are returned to the country.
The Finance Ministry also underlined the significance of Bangladesh’s compliance with international standards. The Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) will conduct the fourth phase of mutual evaluation in 2027–28, and authorities were instructed to take all necessary preparatory steps to meet international benchmarks.
Representatives present included top officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, and key figures from the Foreign Ministry, Home Ministry, police, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
The large-scale asset seizures and legal reforms underscore the Government’s zero-tolerance approach to illicit financial activities. With significant resources both domestically and overseas now under state control, the country is taking a firm stance against corruption, financial crime, and the funding of terrorism.