ACC-FBI collaborate to recover Tk 100,000 cr in smuggled funds

Staff Correspondent: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has joined forces with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the alleged smuggling of approximately Tk100,000 crore during the tenure of the Sheikh Hasina government. This major initiative aims to recover these illicit funds through a coordinated effort involving both domestic and international partners.
On Monday, an FBI team led by Legal Attaché Robert Cameron and Supervisory Special Agents arrived in Dhaka and held crucial discussions with ACC officials at the commission’s headquarters. The meeting was attended by the ACC’s director generals of the Money Laundering and Legal Wings, along with other high-ranking officials.
According to sources, the meeting focused on establishing a joint strategy to address the complexities of money laundering and recovering smuggled assets. The collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency of the recovery process, leveraging the expertise of both the ACC and FBI.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an ACC director general disclosed to Dhaka Tribune that the commission has been making significant progress in its efforts to combat money smuggling and recover illicit funds.
The discussions with the FBI provided a comprehensive overview of the ACC’s initiatives and explored how the FBI could further assist in the repatriation of smuggled money. The two agencies are considering forming a joint task force to strengthen their efforts.
The ACC has also been in regular communication with other international law enforcement agencies
to support this investigation.
On Sunday, Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced the recovery of approximately Tk30,000 crore, previously smuggled into the banking sector. This achievement underscores the progress made in tackling financial misconduct in the country.
The special task force established by the government to address financial crimes includes representatives from Bangladesh Bank, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the ACC, the Department of Finance, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Attorney General’s Office, and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC). This multidisciplinary team continues to work on enhancing transparency within Bangladesh’s financial systems.
The ACC emphasized that its collaboration with the FBI represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges of money laundering and restoring integrity within the country’s financial sector. These joint efforts underscore a strong commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh’s economy and combating financial crimes at an international level.