Chief Adviser seeks Canada’s help to recover stolen money

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has sought Canada’s help to recover money siphoned off from Bangladesh to the North American country.

The chief adviser sought the help when Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Ajit Singh called on him at the State guest House Jamuna on Tuesday (February 4).

He said hundreds of billions of dollars were stolen from Bangladesh by oligarchs, cronies, and politicians connected with the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship, and part of it was laundered to Canada, including in buying assets in Toronto’s infamous ‘Begum Para’ neighbourhood.

The chief adviser sought help to identify, freeze, and recover the assets during his meeting.

The Canadian envoy appreciated the efforts of the Prof Yunus-led interim government to bring back the stolen money.

He assured Canada's support in response to the Chief Adviser's asset recovery efforts, noting that Canada has a ‘mechanism’ to freeze siphoned off money for recovery from persons identified by the interim government to the government of Canada.

The Canadian ambassador also offered the country's support to interim government's reform initiatives in its transition to democracy.

He said Canada was keen to expand trade with Bangladesh and invest more in the country.

He added a Canadian minister would visit Bangladesh soon to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Prof Yunus recalled his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said Dhaka needs more Canadian investment.

The chief adviser said many Bangladeshi people now live and study in Canada, and Ottawa should make a move to set up its visa office in Dhaka.

Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator of SDG affairs, also attended the meeting.