Paradise Papers: Independent MP demands investigation

An independent lawmaker in parliament yesterday demanded that the government probes the Bangladeshi businessmen whose names came up in the Paradise Papers.

Taking the floor on a point of order and referring to media reports, Rustam Ali Farazi MP said some 21 businessmen and organisations unlawfully invested in offshore companies.

He asked the government to make the names of the organisations and businesspeople public, release related documents, and give detailed information on them.

Farazi said, “The government should make public the names for the interest of the nation.”

The lawmaker also recalled that he spoke in parliament after the Panama Papers revelations.

“At that time, the government had assured that it would make public the investigation report on Panama Papers but the report is yet to be published,” he added.

“We are yet to know anything about the report [Panama Papers probe]. The report should be made public immediately,” he said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday said it was yet to complete the investigation procedures.

The independent lawmaker said 14 names were linked to the Panama Papers while names of 21 businessmen came out in the Paradise Papers.

He said according to media reports, names of BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, his wife, and sons along with names of some Bangladeshi organisations were mentioned in the Paradise Papers.