Stalled progress on inquiries over siphoned off cash

 
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) disclosed a list of 459 individuals on 16.04.2025 (Ref: 00.01.0000.403.01.007.23.21320) and requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to cooperate with the investigation on these people's explicit connections with money laundering and buying properties in foreign countries with massive amounts of cash siphoned off from Bangladesh's banks, financial institutions, stock markets etcetera. The letter was signed by Ram Prasad Mandal, Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission.

However, the progress with this investigation is very slow so far and the prosecution of branded financial thugs who were arrested after ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's downfall in August 2024 seems to have stalled. Justice delayed, justice denied. When the trial process of notorious bank fraudsters and financial rampage ringleaders loses speed, it gives undue privileges to racketeers who are out of the bars of prisons. That's why it's more than essential to speed up the prosecution of bank monsters who have been inside prison and to subject them to exemplary punishment quickly.

The noteworthy names unveiled through the above ACC letter include Ahasanul Karim, Anjuman Ara Shahid, Hefjul Mohammad Iqbal, Humaira Salim, Juran Chandra Bhowmik, Md Rabbi Khan, Syed Mahmudul Huq, Salim Reza, Abu Yousuf Md. Abdullah, Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, Mostafa Amir Faisal, Abdul Hai Sarker, Nazrul Islam Mazumder, S. Alam, Salman F. Rahman and so on.

Prominent citizens have emphasized that legal action against infamous money launderers and bank gobblers should not be spared under any circumstances. One particular news item shocked and surprised everyone a few days ago which narrated that Bangladesh Bank Governor said efforts are going on to reach settlements with money launderers. Whereas the interim government and financial regulators should have cracked down hard on financial bandits and treacherous oligarchs who spoiled and paralyzed banks during last 15 years, the new central bank high-ups and the authorities concerned are trying to compromise with these financial culprits. This is absolutely inadmissible.

Professor Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University said that the July Revolution was conducted to fight corruption and socioeconomic injustice. Talking about reaching a deal with bank plunderers and the racketeers who crippled banks in Bangladesh for last 15 years no way matches the hope and vision with which the July Mass Upsurge was carried out and thousands of martyrs gave away their lives.

Professor Dr. Mainul Ahsan of Economics Department, Chittagong University said that people from all walks of life offered their heartfelt support to the interim government when it was formed on 8 August 2024. The interim government took oath to serve the nation with utmost dedication and patriotism, Professor Dr. Mainul Ahsan further said. He added that sitting with negotiation with bank robbers would be a kind of betrayal with the blood of martyrs who brought about the July Revolution.