BNP on Sunday described the government’s plan to offer an amnesty for money launderers as a devilish trick to legalise the funds the ruling party leaders siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh. “They (AL leaders) are looting the assets of the country and siphoning off public money abroad,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a discussion, he said the government is now saying that it will bring back the laundered money by offering an amnesty. “It’s another devilish trick. It means they themselves laundered the money and will now bring it to the country to make it legal.” By giving the money launders such an amnesty, the BNP leader said the government will create further scope for the ruling party leaders to plunder more public money. Also read: Election using EVMs won’t be acceptable: Jatiya Party ”This regime can’t be trusted in any way… Awami League can no way be allowed to remain in power anymore,” he said. He urged BNP leaders and activists to get united and intensify the movement for the restoration of the democracy by ousting the government BNP orginased the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 41st death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman Earlier on Thursday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government plans an amnesty for money launderers to bring back the money they had taken out of the country. He said Bangladesh Bank will issue a circular in this regard with more information before the national budget is placed in Parliament. Fakhrul alleged that the current government has obliterated democracy and snatched people’s rights to hang onto power. "We’re going to different districts outside Dhaka to hold the councils of (our party’s different units) and observing a serious urge among people to get back their rights,” he said. Accusing the ruling party of carrying out propaganda against Zia, Fakhrul said no one can erase his name from history. "It matters little if you (AL leaders) call Ziaur Rahman a villain, a Pakistani spy or a military ruler as he is there in the deep hearts of the country’s people. Ziaur Rahman can never be erased from history since it has absorbed him.” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the present Awami League government has been taking the country to the brink of destruction by destroying the spirits of the Liberation War. “There’s is now no democracy, no human rights and no right to vote. People are hit hard by the growing price hikes in essential commodities,” he said. Also read: AL leaders to leave country bowing heads: Fakhrul Mosharraf said the government has now become too weak to endure a strong mass wave of people. “We now need to just give a push to this regime…we have to take an oath to remove this government through united efforts and thus ensure that the next election will be held under a neutral government. ”

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said the name of Tarique Rahman, a convicted fugitive leader of BNP, will come on top in any list of money launderers of Bangladesh. Quader’s rebuff came in response to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s demand that the government publishes a list of those who siphoned off money from the country. Quader, who is also road transport and bridges minister, was addressing virtually the triennial council of Meherpur district unit of Awami League. Also read: Khaleda will be PM if BNP returns to power: Mosharraf The AL general secretary also urged BNP secretary general to provide proofs and evidences before raising any allegations. About fugitive businessman PK Halder who was detained in India, Quader said Halder has no relation with the ruling party. He is rather identified as a money launderer. Halder's trial will be held as per law, he mentioned, he said. Quader called upon the party leaders and workers to make it well-organized and smarter as part of preparations for the next parliamentary elections under the leadership of party president Sheikh Hasina. Saying 'those who have involvement with extortion, drug peddling, smuggling and terrorism will have no room in AL, Quader urged the local leaders to evaluate good and dedicated politicians in forming new committees. Also read: Publish the list of Money launderers, BNP asks govt Meherpur district AL President and State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain chaired the council while AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, Central Working Committee Members Amirul Islam Milon, Advocate Gloria Sarker Jharna and Parvin Jaman Kalpana and Meherpur district AL General Secretary MA Khaleque were present.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday demanded that a list of those who siphoned off huge amounts of money abroad and their abettors be made public.  "Our question is, how many PK Halders  are there (in the county)? How many such people are there? We have seen (media reports) that they (AL leaders) are indulging in siphoning of money by plundering thousands of crores of taka from the country,” he said.  Speaking at a programme on occasion of the Buddha Purnima, the BNP leader said their party wants to know how many thousands of crores of taka have been laundered in this way.  “We also strongly demand the government to make public clearly the way the money was laundered and the names of those who were involved in it and their abettors,” BNP arranged the programme at its chairperson’s Gulshan office and exchanged greetings with the  Buddhist community members, marking Buddha Purnima.  Also read: AL leaders’ plunder of public money a historical fact: BNP Fakhrul said it is the responsibility of the Anti-Corruption Commission ((ACC) to investigate and expose the incidents of corruption, theft and money laundering.  But, he bemoaned that the ACC has long been only harassing the leaders of BNP and catching some small fries.  The BNP leader called upon the ACC to play a proactive role in catching the big fishes those who are associated with the present government and bring them to justice through proper investigation.  He said Awami League General Secretray Obaidul Quader himself admitted that their party leaders siphoned off huge amount of money abroad through his recent remarks that those who had laundered thousands of crores of taka would not be given the leadership of the Awami League.   Fakhrul urged people of all walks of life to get united to come out of the current miserable situation of the country and restore all by ousting the present government. Also read: BNP won’t fall for govt’s false assurance in joining polls: Zainul Abedin  "Let us all work together and wage a united movement to remove this horrible government and establish a truly representative parliament and government through a fair election under a truly non-partisan neutral government,” he said. BNP senior leaders and the leaders of Buddhist community from different parts of the country were present at the programme.

The High Court has sought to know of the steps taken against the people and institutions whose names came up as money launderers in the Panama and Paradise Papers. HC ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) to submit separate reports by January 9 to the court. The HC also asked the CID and BFIU to explain in their reports what action they have taken to prevent money laundering and why they failed to provide information about money launderers to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). READ: HC orders Tk 5 lakh compensation for Ramgati student Tamim’s treatment HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice AKM Zahirul Huq passed the orders on Monday. Following a writ petition filed by advocate Abdul Qaium Khan and advocate Subir Nandi Das on February 1, a rule was issued on February 27 asking why the money laundered abroad by individuals and organizations should not be ordered to be recovered and why the failure and inaction of the respondents in bringing back the laundered money would not be deemed illegal. READ: HC orderss 24/7 surveillance on activities of Rajarbagh Pir, syndicate

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.

The High Court on Sunday sought a list of people who have laundered money from Bangladesh.

All the corrupt figures and money launderers including Proshanta Kumar Halder must be brought to justice no matter how influential they are.