Dhaka hasn’t sought specific info from Zurich

We have provided the [Bangladesh] government with all available information on how to reach an agreement on these matters, but no request has been made about any particular funds.

Bangladesh has never sought any specific information on the money deposited with Swiss banks by Bangladeshi citizens, said Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard.

"We have provided the government with all available information on how to reach an agreement on these matters, but no request has been made about any particular funds," she said at the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh Talk at the National Press Club yesterday.

She said this in response to a question that there were allegations that much of the money deposited by the Bangladeshis with Swiss banks was laundered and that the Swiss authorities did not provide any information about it.

Natalie Chuard said Switzerland was not a safe haven for corrupt money.

She said they certainly did not encourage capital flight and the Swiss banking system was the most renowned and internationally connected system.

There is a risk of abuse at all financial centres but Switzerland takes steps to mitigate its risk as fast as possible, the diplomat said.

Switzerland is committed to implementing international standards and has some specific regulations and agreements with countries to exchange this type of information. It can also work on that with Bangladesh, she said.

Annually, Switzerland provides statistics on the money deposited with its banks by the nationals of different counties.

According to those statistics, the amount of money individuals stashed in Swiss banks has decreased recently, she said.

However, the funds deposited by Bangladeshi clients with the banks increased by nearly 55 percent to 871.11 million Swiss francs year-on-year in 2021.

Chuard said over the past few years, Switzerland has not only developed, and contributed to, but also spearheaded many international reforms and provided new standards and contributed to the elaboration of new standards regarding many different issues such as the illicit transfer of funds, corruption, money laundering.

Switzerland, which was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in June for 2023-24, believes in dialogue and will continue committed partnership with Bangladesh towards the next stage of its socio-economic development.

To this end, she said, good governance, respect and promotion of human rights, empowerment and inclusion of women and minority groups, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation, will remain at the heart of Swiss action and development cooperation.

"We are keen to reinforce our engagement with Bangladesh on SDGs since they remain our compass for the years to come. In that regard, one SDG that is particularly dear to our hearts is SDG 16 -- peace, justice and strong institutions -- since it is so closely interlinked with other SDGs," she said.

DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event.