Govt to identify depositors, take action

The government after proper investigation would take action against the Bangladeshis who have deposited money in Swiss banks, Food Minister Qamrul Islam said in parliament yesterday while filling in for the finance minister.

He made the comment while replying to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Pir Fazlur Rahman.

Qamrul said the government would take steps to identify those with money in foreign banks. “We will also try to get the money back.”

He read out Muhith's scripted answer to a question from AL MP Nazrul Islam Babu.

Muhith in the statement said a strong system had already been developed to prevent individuals and organisations from using money in terrorist activities.

“Directives have been issued to inform the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, if any individual or organisation is found involved with terror acts.”

Meanwhile, a number of opposition and treasury bench MPs yesterday criticised Muhith for his absence in the hour-long question-answer session.

Of the first 10 “star-marked” questions, seven were related to the finance division, financial institution division, external resources division and economic relation division.

Muhith was supposed to reply to lawmakers' queries as well as their supplementary questions on those issues.  

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan was also not present.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury later asked the food minister to respond to the lawmakers' queries on behalf of the finance minister.

After the food minister' s response, several MPs said they did not find any interest in asking supplementary questions as the finance minister was not available in parliament.

Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman said, “What is the benefit of asking any supplementary question? The finance minister is not available in parliament.”