The government and Bangladesh Bank have intensified efforts to tackle rising non-performing loans, financial fraud and money laundering, with authorities pursuing major defaulters and strengthening safeguards for depositors, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament on Tuesday.
In a written response to a question from opposition MP Hafez Muhammad Rabiul Bashar, the finance minister outlined a range of regulatory and enforcement measures aimed at improving stability in the banking sector and restoring public confidence.
Khosru said Bangladesh Bank has introduced several policy initiatives to accelerate loan recovery. Among them is a guideline issued under Circular No. 07/2025, designed to help banks recover outstanding loans from borrowers facing repayment difficulties.
He added that a separate resolution strategy has been introduced for banks burdened with high levels of classified loans. The central bank has also put in place procedures to identify and take action against wilful defaulters under the amended Bank Company Act through Circular No. 06 issued in March 2024.
According to the minister, the framework clearly defines how wilful defaulters are identified and specifies penalties that can be imposed against them.
Addressing concerns over money laundering and the recovery of assets transferred abroad, Khosru said a 12-member task force led by the governor of Bangladesh Bank has been established to coordinate investigations and enforcement efforts.
Based on recommendations from the task force, the government has selected 11 priority money laundering cases for action under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
To investigate these cases, authorities have formed 11 Joint Investigation Teams under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commission, with participation from the Criminal Investigation Department, the National Board of Revenue`s Central Intelligence Cell and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.
Providing an update on progress, the finance minister said that by April 2026, courts had ordered the attachment of domestic immovable assets worth Tk 9,918.86 crore and frozen movable assets valued at Tk 47,249.23 crore.
He added that overseas assets worth Tk 19,645.91 crore, including both movable and immovable properties, have also been frozen or attached through legal proceedings.
Overall, assets valued at approximately Tk 76,814 crore in Bangladesh and abroad have been brought under court orders as part of recovery efforts.
Khosru further informed Parliament that 142 cases have been filed in connection with the recovery of laundered funds. Charge sheets have been submitted in 16 cases, while courts have already delivered verdicts in six.
To strengthen international asset recovery efforts, a dedicated Stolen Asset Recovery Division has recently been established under the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, the minister said.
