Statements of Swiss envoy, govt, ACC contradictory: HC

The statements made by the Swiss ambassador, the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission regarding seeking information on money deposited by Bangladeshis to Swiss banks are contradictory, said the High Court yesterday.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat made the observation after the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit and ACC placed two separate reports before it that showed they had requested information on various occasions from the Swiss government since 2013.

The BFIU has sought information from the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) through Egmont Secure Web about 67 persons and organisations who have allegedly deposited money to banks in Switzerland.

But the MROS said it had information on just one of them, said AKM Amin Uddin Manik, the deputy attorney general.

The ACC had requested information from MROS in 2014, 2019 and 2021 through the BFIU but in vain, said Khurshid Alam Khan, its lawyer.

The HC bench asked the two to place their written statements through swearing affidavits before this court by August 21, which is the date set for passing further order on the issue.

Earlier on August 10, Nathalie Chuard, the Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh, said Bangladesh had never sought any specific information on the money deposited by Bangladeshi citizens with Swiss banks.

According to the annual report published in June by Switzerland's central bank, Bangladeshis deposited about Tk 3,000 crore last year, Prothom Alo quoted Chuard as saying.

"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.

Chuard's statement has created an embarrassing situation for Bangladesh, the HC said the following day.

Subsequently, the bench wanted to know from the government whether that was the case.