The High Court today sought a list of people with dual citizenships and passports in the country.
The court has asked the Special Branch of police and immigration department to submit the list before the court within February 28 of the next year.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order on Monday. Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state before the court.
Earlier on December 17, the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel sought a full report from the authorities concerned about those who are involved in money laundering within February 28 of the next year.
On the same day, the ACC and other authorities concerned submitted a report on the money launderers as the same HC bench passed an order voluntarily and sought detailed information including the names and identities of the money launderers from the authorities concerned on November 22.
The court ordered the authorities concerned including finance secretary, Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Governor of Bangladesh Bank and the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka to submit the report within December 17.
The High Court also issued a rule asking them to explain this matter within the next four weeks.
On November 18, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said he was surprised to see the number of government officials outnumbering the politicians who siphoned money off to Toronto in Canada.
"It is initial information. We have to verify it," he told reporters referring to information they have about 28 cases.
Of the 28 cases, only four are against politicians while the rest are against government officials including some businessmen.
"I thought that the number of politicians would be higher. I got surprised though the information is not comprehensive," said the Foreign Minister.
He said many government officials own houses in Toronto and their children are studying there. The foreign minister said such a situation is not only there in Canada but also in Malaysia.
"It's difficult to obtain information," Dr Momen claimed, adding that what they see in media reports on thousands of crores of money siphoned off may not be fully true considering the abovementioned figure.
nh/wi
