Photo: Video screenshot

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 21, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today said in the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has initiated legal steps to recover assets allegedly laundered abroad by S Alam Group and Beximco Group.

"The most important step in criminal proceedings for recovering laundered assets abroad is sending Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2012 to the concerned countries," he said.

The Finance Minister said this while replying to a starred question from NCP lawmaker Md. Abul Hasnat (Cumilla-4) in the house today.

He said a joint investigation team comprising the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Customs Intelligence and other agencies has already filed cases in Bangladeshi courts to this end.

"MLARs have been sent to four countries -- British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Jersey and Singapore -- regarding S Alam Group and to two countries -- the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates -- regarding Beximco Group," he added.

The minister said that alongside criminal proceedings, civil legal measures are also being pursued. "Four internationally reputed foreign law firms have been engaged to trace and identify assets abroad," he said.

Highlighting the complexity of the process, he said, "Recovering laundered assets is a complex and lengthy legal procedure. After receiving responses to MLARs, further legal steps will be taken, and recovery will depend on identification of assets and proving money laundering in courts."

Khasru noted that similar efforts in other countries have also taken considerable time. "It is not possible at this stage to determine how much money or assets can be recovered in the current or next fiscal year," he said.

However, the minister assured that "all possible legal efforts are underway and will continue."

In his question, the lawmaker mentioned that Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has non-performing loans amounting to Tk 92,115 crore, of which around Tk 80,000 crore is linked to S Alam Group, while Janata Bank has nearly Tk 25,000 crore in defaulted loans associated with Beximco Group.