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Dhaka, June 12, 2025 : The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is exploring financial settlements with individuals accused of money laundering during the tenure of the previous government under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur, tasked with leading the asset recovery efforts, indicated that settlements could be an option for less severe cases.
In an interview with the Financial Times in Dhaka before his visit to the United Kingdom, Governor Mansur stated that the approach to recovering laundered funds would depend on the nature of the alleged offenses. “If the violation is relatively minor, we will pursue civil cases, and financial settlements will be considered as part of the process,” he said, without naming specific individuals.
The interim administration has accused associates of the previous government of siphoning off billions of dollars from the country. A white paper published in December 2024 estimated that approximately $234 billion was laundered during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. The government has initiated 11 high-priority investigations targeting politically influential families, including Hasina’s, and has frozen several domestic bank accounts.
Governor Mansur aims to raise up to $100 million to fund international lawsuits to recover these assets. The administration is collaborating with foreign law enforcement agencies and has sought “encouraging cooperation” from the UK government during Yunus’s ongoing visit to London. Yunus emphasized the importance of recovering stolen funds, stating, “This is stolen money. Legally and, I would say, morally, the UK government should assist in identifying it.”
Mansur, a former International Monetary Fund official, alleged that allies of the former prime minister facilitated money laundering through fraudulent loans and misappropriation from government infrastructure projects. However, supporters of Hasina’s Awami League, which was banned last month, claim the interim government’s actions are driven by political vendetta.
To support its legal efforts, Bangladesh Bank is engaging litigation funding firms to cover costs such as legal fees and court expenses. In return, these firms would receive a portion of recovered assets or pre-agreed payments. “We are looking at litigation funding and receiving very positive responses,” Mansur said, expressing optimism about securing funds for the recovery process.
AI/MR
