Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. File photo

DHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur today said that the central bank is attempting to reduce ‘regulatory overreach’ by empowering banks to handle their own affairs, remaining strictly adhere to guidelines. 

"We do not want to interfere in your work . . . but our guidelines and regulations must be followed by everyone," he said while speaking at a roundtable titled ‘Banking Sector Reforms’, jointly organised by Mutual Trust Bank PLC and The Financial Express at a hotel in the city.

In his speech, Dr Mansur said the Bangladesh Bank has adopted a direct action strategy by forming three specific task forces instead of a banking commission to expedite financial sector reforms and asset recovery.

He explained that forming a commission would be time-consuming, requiring at least six months for a report and another three months for review. 

He noted that such a delay would leave the current interim government with insufficient time for implementation.

"We have taken the approach that we will not form any commission. We will move directly to implementation through task forces," the governor said, outlining three areas of focus like banking sector reform, Bangladesh Bank reform, and an asset recovery task force.
Highlighting the complexities of retrieving laundered money, the governor detailed the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

He acknowledged that capacity building is a significant challenge and cited technical assistance from international partners. "The World Bank, British Government, FBI, and European Union are providing technical support," he added. 

He mentioned that the ultimate goal is to establish a permanent mechanism similar to the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to combat financial crimes continuously.

The governor revealed that authorities have identified 12 to 13 major criminals and approximately 200 other individuals who have allegedly laundered sums exceeding Taka 200 crore each. 

He expressed hope regarding ongoing legal actions, specifically mentioning the asset recovery case involving Saifuzzaman in London, where Islami Bank has also filed a claim.

The central bank chief asserted that the regulator is pursuing a policy of strict political neutrality to ensure the economy remains functional. 

Distinguishing the current approach from the "1/11" caretaker government era, he emphasized that the objective is to keep factories running regardless of the owners' political affiliations.

"We do not want any factory to close ... No color, no party — if a factory exists, the objective is how to keep it running," he stated.

He provided specific examples, noting that letters of credit (LCs) were permitted for S. Alam Group’s SS Power plant because of its $2.5 billion investment essential for the national power supply.
Similarly, he said, facilities have been provided to the Gazi Group and Beximco. 

Regarding Beximco, the governor noted that out of 18 or 19 entities, only the textile division is facing difficulties, while units like pharmaceuticals and Shinepukur Ceramics remain operational.

He said that a roadmap to exit has been developed in consultation with business representatives to allow affected industries reasonable timeframes—ranging from 5 to 12 years—to regularize their liabilities.

The governor underscored the critical need to pass financial laws during the current administration, warning that future governments might find it ‘extremely difficult’ to enact them.

He expressed concern that the amendment to the Money Loan Court Act was returned by a committee on the grounds of being anti-business. 

He argued that without this amendment, asset recovery would be impossible and urged for its rapid passage.