DHAKA, Dec 17, 2025 (BSS) - The government has decided to amend certain 
provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 to make the law more 
time befitting and strengthen efforts to recover money and assets laundered 
abroad.

The decision was taken at the 30th meeting of the National Coordination 
Committee on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, held 
at the Bangladesh Secretariat today with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed 
in the chair.

The meeting reviewed the progress of joint investigation and inquiry teams 
working on 11 priority cases identified for the recovery of laundered money 
and assets from overseas. 

Officials informed the meeting that some 104 cases have so far been filed in 
these priority matters, while charge sheets have been submitted in 14 cases 
and verdicts delivered in four cases, said a Finance Ministry press release.

The meeting was also informed that movable and immovable assets worth Taka 
55,638 crore within the country and assets worth Taka 10,508 crore abroad-
totalling Taka 66,146 crore-have already been attached and frozen. In 
addition, 21 Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) related to the priority 
cases have been sent to concerned foreign countries.

Emphasising the need for swift action, the finance adviser directed the 
concerned authorities to expedite the submission of charge sheets, send MLARs 
promptly and ensure speedy disposal of cases related to the priority cases.

The meeting also discussed Bangladesh's upcoming 4th round of Mutual 
Evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), scheduled for 
the 2027-28 period, which will assess the country's compliance with 
international standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist 
financing.

Terming the Mutual Evaluation a matter of highest priority, the meeting 
instructed all relevant ministries, divisions and agencies to take necessary 
preparations to effectively face the evaluation process.

Senior officials, including the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, 
the governor of Bangladesh Bank, secretaries of several ministries and 
divisions, heads of regulatory bodies, and representatives of law-enforcement 
and financial intelligence agencies, attended the meeting.