Bangladesh tightens money-laundering laws, targets terrorism

Feb 18, 2012, 8:46 GMT

Dhaka - Bangladesh has tightened its laws to attack the financing of terrorism and corruption, the chief financial regulator said Saturday.

Legislation approved by parliament this week empower regulators to monitor all suspicious transactions by private corporations, non-governmental organizations and other non-banking financial institutions as well as banks.

'It will help prevent laundering money for terrorism purposes and bring back the money allegedly siphoned off to other countries from Bangladesh by politically influential quarters,' Atiur Rahman, governor of Bangladesh Bank, told dpa.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed's majority party approved the laws while the main opposition alliance boycotted the session.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith told parliament Bangladesh had international political commitments to clamp down on illegal financial transactions.

The measures also appeared aimed at the premier's political foes.

Wazed's Awami League has vowed to bring back a 'huge amount of money' allegedly laundered by political leaders, including two sons of her chief rival, former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

Both men, Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman, live abroad and face money laundering charges at home.