Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Saturday said he has no idea who are actually siphoning off money from the country and asked the opposition MPs to provide him with a list of money launderers. “I don’t siphon off money. I believe you (MPs) also don't. How will I be able to know of those who're siphoning off money if you don’t provide me with a list!” he said. During the passage of Bankers’ Book Evidence Bill 2021, the minister came under fire by the opposition MPs for his “failure” to stop money laundering. The finance minister claimed that the amount of default loans is now the lowest in the country since independence. “In 2006, the total amount of the default loan was 13.15 percent. The amount of default loan is Tk 101, 150 crore as of September. This is 8.12 percent, and it’s the lowest,” he insisted. Read: HC seeks list of money launderers While participating in the discussion on the Bill, several opposition MPs alleged that thousands of crores of Taka were siphoned off abroad from the country. The opposition MPs demanded a reply from the finance minister and demanded formation of a banking commission to look into these matters.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said he was surprised to see the number of government officials who siphoned off money to Toronto, Canada, outnumbering politicians.