The government has stepped up its efforts to recover money allegedly laundered abroad, having sent Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) to 23 countries as part of an intensified international campaign to trace, freeze and repatriate illicitly transferred assets. An additional 21 MLARs are currently in progress, according to Finance Minister Amir Khusru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The Finance Minister provided the update on Wednesday (22 April) during a parliamentary question-and-answer session in response to a written query from the opposition member of parliament for Chapainawabganj-3 constituency. He reiterated that the recovery of smuggled funds remains a top priority for the government, particularly as such financial outflows continue to affect domestic economic stability and public resource allocation.
MLARs are formal requests used between countries to obtain assistance in criminal investigations and judicial proceedings. In the context of financial crime, they play a crucial role in identifying assets held overseas, securing freezes on suspicious accounts, and enabling eventual repatriation through legal channels.
The minister emphasised that Bangladesh is actively strengthening its legal and institutional mechanisms to ensure that such cross-border cooperation becomes more efficient and effective. This includes coordinated engagement with foreign jurisdictions and the reinforcement of domestic investigative structures.
To support these objectives, a 12-member inter-agency task force has been formed under the leadership of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The task force is responsible for providing policy direction and coordinating activities among relevant institutions involved in anti-money laundering and asset recovery operations.
On the investigative front, the task force has identified 11 priority cases under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. In response, multiple joint investigation teams have been established to examine the complex financial networks involved in these cases. These teams are led by the Anti-Corruption Commission and include personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department of the police, the Central Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue, and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.
Officials have acknowledged that recovering illicit funds from abroad is highly dependent on effective international cooperation, as financial systems and legal jurisdictions vary significantly across countries. As a result, diplomatic and legal engagement with partner states has been intensified alongside formal MLAR submissions.
Summary of MLAR and Enforcement Actions
| Category | Status / Number |
|---|---|
| MLARs sent to foreign countries | 23 countries |
| MLARs in process | 21 requests |
| Inter-agency task force | 1 (12 members) |
| Priority money laundering cases | 11 cases |
| Joint investigation teams formed | 11 teams |
Experts suggest that such coordinated efforts, if sustained, could significantly enhance the country’s capacity to recover illicit assets and deter future financial crimes. However, they also caution that outcomes will depend heavily on the speed of judicial processes, the strength of international legal cooperation, and the operational efficiency of domestic enforcement agencies.
The government has expressed optimism that ongoing measures will not only lead to tangible recoveries of transferred funds but also contribute to a long-term reduction in capital flight and financial misconduct.