List money launderers with dual citizenship

The High Court yesterday sought a list of names and addresses of Bangladeshi nationals with dual citizenships and dual passports, who have purchased or built houses abroad by laundering money.

While hearing a Suo Moto (voluntary) rule issued on November 22, the court ordered the immigration department under the special branch (SB) of police to submit the list before it by February 28 next year.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel asked the head of the immigration department under the SB to submit the list after collecting information from records of three international airports -- Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, and MAG Osmani International Airport in Sylhet -- in the country.

The bench said Bangladeshi nationals, who have dual citizenships and dual passports and built and purchased residences in different foreign countries by laundering money, have been going abroad and returning to the country through these three international airports.

Therefore, the airports must have some records about the people who built.

Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Commission while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state during yesterday's hearing.

Earlier on November 22, the same HC bench issued an injunction to restrain people from laundering money abroad and directed intelligence agencies to take appropriate steps to stop money laundering.