Govt officials outnumber politicians in siphoning off money overseas: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has stated government officials outnumber politicians on siphoning off money overseas.
"I am surprised to see that the number of federal government officials who siphoned money to Toronto in Canada, outnumber politicians," he said while speaking at a 'Meet the Press' organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at its auditorium in the town on Wednesday.
"We have collected information about the wealth of Bangladeshis on Toronto of Canada secretly. I thought that the number of politicians who siphoned funds to that country will be higher. But, I was surprised to start to see the information. Quite a few government officials have residences, apartments and flats now there, and their kids live and study now there," he said.
The Foreign Minister said: "I have received information about 28 cases only. Of these cases, only four are politicians as the rest are government officials and some businessmen."
The foreign minister said such a predicament not merely persists in Canada, but also in Malaysia.
"It's complicated to get information," Dr Momen said, adding that mass media reports on thousands of crores of funds siphoned overseas aren't fully true taking into consideration the figure.
He said foreign countries are likewise responsible somewhat in this regard, telling Switzerland does not provide them with information on who is depositing money in their banks. The foreign governments as well cannot avoid their tasks.
Dr Momen said they (foreign governments) speak about transparency but they usually do not provide information, if sought. "Double criteria exist there."
The foreign minister said it is okay if anybody takes money overseas legally however the government may bring it back again under law if indeed they send it illegally.
Dr Momen said they urge those that took the amount of money abroad to get it in Bangladesh.
