Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has revealed that an estimated $18 to $20 billion has been laundered from the country, but recovering the funds remains a long and challenging process. Speaking at the release of the BFIU’s annual report on May 27, he said legal and institutional reforms could take 3 to 5 years before any significant repatriation is possible.
While the process has begun with the seizure of some foreign assets owned by Bangladeshis, Mansur acknowledged that Bangladesh Bank is currently unprepared to retrieve the full amount.
He also addressed the issue of Islamic bank mergers, stating that while consolidation is expected and capital will need to be injected, no timeline has been set. Reassuring the business community, Mansur clarified that no business accounts have been frozen, and the central bank aims to avoid any disruption to business operations.
