Editorial
Getting back smuggled out wealth and money
British assistance offer welcome
The Anti-Corruption Commission's efforts to strike a deal with Scotland Yard to secure return of money and wealth stashed away abroad by suspected high profile corrupt Bangladeshis, with the famous law enforcement agency's help, have received an impetus. It came with British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and Director for Asia at the UK foreign and Commonwealth office John Dennis visiting the ACC chief and assuring him of continuing assistance in recovering smuggled wealth.
They will sign a treaty whereby a legal framework will be provided for the Yard's sustained assistance in helping us investigate trans-border financial crimes and secure return of the money having been illegally taken out of the country. The British dignitaries think if provided with specific and authentic information the assistance could materialise tangibly and meaningfully. Bangladesh had already received some of Scotland Yard's help in the investigation of bombing incidents and now they have offered to share their expertise in probing sophisticated financial crimes.
Cooperation with Great Britain would hopefully be followed up with new avenues opened to other countries, especially of the Commonwealth, for mutual assistance in recovering money laundered by top graft suspects. We should also seek the assistance of the USA, some other North American and European countries in an effort to get back stashed away money, if any. Our authorities are understandably in contact with Singapore and Malaysia where suspected ill-gotten money might have landed up.
At this stage, we need technical support and cooperation for the ACC's planned efforts for initiating a drive against institutional corruption likely to begin in December this year all over the country. It augurs well that some important foreign embassies and missions in Dhaka have expressed their willingness to come forward in extending a helping hand.
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