Foreign ministry seeks explanation from embassy in Washington

The foreign ministry has sought explanation from the Bangladesh embassy in Washington regarding the alleged misappropriation of USD 1.46 lakh from the emergency bank account of the mission in 2020.

"Our ministry sought explanation from the Bangladesh embassy in Washington about the bank account after some media reported on the matter," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told journalists at a media briefing today.

"We are yet to receive any information from the embassy. Once we have it, we will decide the next course of action," she said.

According to some media reports, Bangladesh embassy in Washington DC had an account for emergency fund with the Citibank. The fund had USD 1.46 lakh which is worth about Tk 1.5 crore.

However, between October 26 and November 30, 2020, the amount was withdrawn and later the account was closed.

According to sources, the emergency account was opened by the Bangladesh embassy after cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh in 2007. People made some donations to the account in the initial days, but there was no transaction for long before withdrawal of the money in late 2020.