Dhaka, 27 May 2025 – Following the recent mass student and public uprising, several media outlets reported on the freezing of bank accounts linked to various political figures. In response, Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor of the Bangladesh Bank, clarified that while accounts of individuals associated with the Awami League were frozen, no business or institutional accounts were affected.
He reiterated that the central bank has not frozen any business accounts, and no barriers were created in business transactions, even if account holders were under scrutiny.
???? Bank Merger Strategy: Gradual and Strategic
At a press conference held at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters on Tuesday, the Governor outlined the strategy regarding weak banks in the country.
“Not all weak banks will be merged at once. The process will be gradual,” he said.
???? Planned Steps for Bank Restructuring:
| Stage | Details |
| 1️⃣ Initial Takeover | Government to acquire weak banks |
| 2️⃣ Investment Invitation | Attracting large foreign investors |
| 3️⃣ Hand-over to Investors | Transfer of ownership/control to ensure financial stability |
| ???? Final Goal | Protect depositors’ interests and restore banking sector credibility |
❌ No Business Operations Frozen
The Governor stated:
“We are not halting any business. Even if an owner is under investigation, we allow the business to continue, ensuring that no money is laundered in the process.”
This reflects the balance between enforcement and economic continuity.
????⚖️ Legal Coordination & Bureaucratic Reform
Governor Mansur identified inter-ministerial complexities and bureaucratic red tape as major challenges in financial crime prevention.
???? Key Reforms Initiated:
- A task force comprising representatives from every relevant agency has been formed.
- Legislative amendments are underway to grant the task force legal recognition under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
- The aim is to make the task force a legally recognised government body to improve inter-agency coordination.
“By embedding the task force into legal frameworks, we aim to dismantle bureaucratic entanglements and improve efficiency,” said the Governor.
???? Asset Recovery: Timeline and Challenges
Responding to a journalist’s question about the timeline for recovering laundered assets, the Governor said:
“It will take 3 to 5 years to recover the money. There’s no doubt about this.”
???? Recent Progress:
- After returning from London in March, he had aimed to see asset seizures within six months.
- In just two months, some assets have already been identified and partially frozen.
- More recoveries are expected in the coming months.
“In this interim government’s first year, our objective is to seize as many foreign assets as possible to prevent further laundering,” he added.
⚖️ Legal Complexities in Foreign Recovery:
| Challenge | Details |
| Differences in Legal Systems | Bangladeshi vs foreign legal systems often do not align |
| Need for Dual Approach | Must distinguish between civil and criminal lawsuits |
| Risk of Case Conflicts | Overlap of lawsuits could cause all proceedings to collapse |
| Evidence Handling | Meticulous separation and collection of evidence required for success in foreign courts |
The Governor emphasised the importance of preemptive legal strategy when filing lawsuits abroad.
???? BFIU Annual Report 2023–2024 Highlights
At the beginning of the conference, A F M Shahinul Islam, Chief Officer of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), presented the 2023–24 Annual Report.
???? Key Statistics:
| Category | 2023–24 | % Change from Previous Year |
| Suspicious Transaction/Activity Reports (STRs/SARs) | 17,345 | +22.36% |
| Information Exchanges with Agencies | 1,220 | +13.91% |
As of May 2025 of the current fiscal year:
- 18,025 suspicious transaction reports submitted
- 9,105 suspicious activity reports received
???? Surge in Anti-Laundering Activity Since Mid-2024
Muhammad Anisur Rahman, Director of BFIU, stated:
“Since July last year, the BFIU’s workload has increased manifold. The volume of suspicious reports has risen significantly.”
- Report sharing with various agencies has increased fourfold
- Anti-money laundering operations are now seen as an ongoing, continuous process
The Bangladesh Bank, in partnership with the BFIU, is focusing on:
- Protecting depositor interests
- Gradual restructuring of weak banks
- Preventing money laundering
- Recovering foreign-held assets
Through coordinated legal, financial, and operational reform, the central bank seeks to maintain economic stability and integrity in Bangladesh’s banking sector.