The Government of Bangladesh has successfully seized assets valued at a staggering Tk 66,146 crore from various industrial groups, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday. The confiscated assets include Tk 55,638 crore worth of domestic property and movable assets, with an additional Tk 10,508 crore held abroad.
Ministry officials clarified that the term “attached” means these assets are legally frozen. The owners are prohibited from selling, transferring, or withdrawing them from banks, ensuring the state maintains full control over the resources.
The announcement followed the 30th meeting of the National Coordination Committee on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. The committee reviewed strategies to enhance the recovery of funds both within Bangladesh and overseas.
During the meeting, it was decided to update certain provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, to make the law more effective in tackling cross-border asset smuggling. The committee also emphasised speedy filing of charge sheets in priority cases and the swift conclusion of ongoing proceedings. Special focus was placed on 11 designated cases where joint investigation teams are working to recover assets transferred abroad.
The Ministry also noted that Bangladesh will undergo a mutual evaluation by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) during the 2027–28 period, to assess compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards. Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed instructed all relevant authorities to treat this evaluation as a top priority and take necessary preparatory measures.
The high-level meeting was attended by key representatives from several agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the Finance Secretary, the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, the Foreign Secretary, the Attorney General, the CID Chief, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Police, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Summary of Seized Assets
| Category | Value (Tk Crore) |
|---|---|
| Domestic immovable & movable assets | 55,638 |
| Assets held abroad | 10,508 |
| Total assets attached/seized | 66,146 |
| Legal status | Attached/Frozen |
| Priority cases | 11 ongoing investigations |
| Relevant legislation | Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (to be updated) |
| Oversight & coordination | National Coordination Committee |