Panama papers: ACC submits report with Bangladeshi names to HC

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday submitted to the High Court a report containing the names of 61 Bangladeshi individuals and seven organisations mentioned in the Panama Papers as money launderers.

The report, however, contains no specific independent findings by the ACC about the Bangladeshis who have laundered and deposited huge amount of money abroad and to overseas banks, and purchased property.

The ACC cannot conduct an enquiry as it could not get detailed names and addresses, accurate information or relevant records of their investments in the offshore companies, the report said.  

The ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan submitted the report in compliance with an HC directive issued on December 6.  

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman is scheduled to hold a hearing on the pending suo moto (voluntary) rule and a writ petition in this regard. 

Contacted, Khurshid told The Daily Star that the ACC will need a long time to find the Bangladeshis who have purchased properties abroad with laundered money under the existing laws and treaties.

"As a lawyer, I feel that bilateral agreements need to be signed at the state level between Bangladesh and the countries the money has been laundered to, in order to find the launderers and bring them to book."   

Earlier on Wednesday, BFUI submitted to the HC a separate report containing the names of 69 Bangladeshi individuals and entities disclosed in Panama Papers and Paradise Papers as money launderers.   

According to the report, the Panama Papers mentioned 43 names, while the Paradise Papers disclosed 26.