Atiur terms money laundering as biggest crime

Dhaka, Mar 6: Bangladesh Bank governor Dr. Atiur Rahman on Sunday said that money laundering is the biggest crime in the financial sector.

 

“If money laundering is not checked, it would affect the financial stability of the country", he said while addressing the concluding session of the 3-day conference of the anti-money laundering officials of 56 banks at a resort in Habiganj district.

 

The conference, with deputy chief of the Financial Intelligent Unit of Bangladesh Bank Nawshad Ali Chowdhury in the chair, was also addressed, among others, by central bank deputy governor Abu Hena Razee Hasan.

 

The governor said that the people of the country are deprived of their rights due to the money laundering and terror financing. This hampers investment as well.

 

He urged the bank officials to be more alert against cyber crime as such crimes are rising with the increased level of digital transactions. He said that many organised gangs are now more active showing a big threat to global economic activities.

 

Dr. Atiur observed that the laundered money is entering many countries as foreign investment due to their weaknesses in terms of strategy and liberal economic policy.      

 

"Again this money leaves those countries within a few days. So this money never serves a country and have no contribution to the economy," he said. The central bank chief called the bankers to get united against such money laundering activities, according to UNB.