2024-02-20 14:15:02
Suspicious Transactions (STRs) and suspicious activities have increased in the country’s financial sector. In the financial year 2022-23 there were 14 thousand 106 suspicious transactions. Suspicious transactions increased by 64.57 percent or 5 thousand 535 in one year. In the financial year 2021-22 this number was 8 thousand 571 and in the financial year 2020-21 it was 5 thousand 280.
These things were said in the annual report of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) for the financial year 2022-23.
The details of this report were presented in a press conference at Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday (February 20). BFIU chief Masud Biswas was present as a guest.
Not all Suspicious Transactions (STRs) are crimes, the press conference said. Investigate suspicious transactions. Then if there is evidence of any crime, we take action against them.
BFIU chief Masud Biswas said that 80 percent of money laundering is done through banks. It is difficult to control if the bank does not cooperate with it. Because once money is laundered, it cannot be brought back.
He said, it has been proposed to make MoU with 10 countries for bringing back the smuggled money and cooperation.
In response to a question, the head of BFIU said that 59 cases of money laundering have been registered based on the information of BFIU. Among them, ACC has filed 47 cases, CID 10 and NBR’s special cell 2. These are not settled yet.
According to the BFIU report, banks have submitted a maximum of 12 thousand 809 suspicious transaction reports in the entire financial year. The banks submitted 7 thousand 999 reports in the previous financial year. Financial institutions submitted 121 reports. And the exchange houses have submitted 900 reports.
BFIU Executive Director Rafiqul Islam, Foreign Exchange and Policy Director Sarwar Hossain, Additional Director Kamal Hossain were present in the press conference.