DHAKA: Bangladesh has become a gold smuggling route, the Asia/Pacific Group (APG) Laundering has claimed.
A delegation of the Bangkok-based organisation met Finance Minster AMA Muhith on Wednesday and expressed concern about the development.
The team drew the conclusion after touring Dhaka for nearly two weeks, Muhith told.
Detectives claim the massive gold seizure worth millions of dollars at Dhaka and Chittagong airports over the past one year were meant for international destinations.
File Photo File Photo After the meeting with delegation at his Minto Road official residence, Muhith said, “We have become a passage for gold smuggling. Gold from all over the world goes to India through Bangladesh. Gold is also smuggled through Bangladesh from the Middle East. We have shortcomings here.”
“We are not seriously tackling the gold smuggling issue up until now. Bangladesh Bank is taking some measures. We will pay some attention to gold smuggling in the next budget.”
The finance minister highlighted the need for the international organisation’s cooperation and said, “They said we are capable enough, they will help if need be.”
The APG delegates also spoke about the weakness in the public purchase rules and banking sector of Bangladesh in the meeting.
Muhith said, “We have told them we are amending the law on public purchase.”
He said, “An APG team will come to Dhaka in November and our people will work with them. I may see them on the last day of the visit.
Muhith told the media efforts were on to make government procurement transparent and efficient
He admitted there is weakness in the banking sector before adding: “I still don’t know how to overcome it.”
“This needs to be discussed with the prime minister. I’m trying to do this… If that happens, I‘ll be able to give a statement on public sector banking in a month or two.”
The weaknesses in the private banks are fewer, according to him.
The seven-strong APG team came on Oct 10 to assess measures against money laundering and terror financing and leave Thursday.
