Bangladesh has intensified its collaboration with British authorities to trace and recover stolen assets laundered abroad, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said during a press briefing in London on Wednesday.

“Recovering stolen money is a complex and lengthy process. That is why the interim government has accelerated efforts to bring it back,” Alam told reporters.

As part of these efforts, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur are accompanying Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on his official visit to the United Kingdom.

The ACC chief and the central bank governor recently held a joint meeting with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which has experience in identifying money laundering trails and facilitating the attachment and repatriation of stolen assets, Alam said.

According to him, the NCA has already initiated two separate moves aimed at supporting Bangladesh’s asset recovery process.

The Bangladeshi delegation is also engaging with experts and institutions to study how other countries have successfully retrieved illicit funds from abroad.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus also raised the issue of asset recovery during a meeting with UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, Alam added.

In addition to financial matters, the two sides discussed the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, Dhaka’s efforts to build consensus, and regional peace and stability in South Asia.

SMS/