Switzerland embassy admits envoy’s speech was wrong

The embassy of Switzerland in Dhaka has admitted that Ambassador Nathalie Chuard’s speech about the government’s steps seeking information of Bangladeshis who have bank accounts in Switzerland was wrong.

The Swiss embassy in Dhaka has informed this to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said a report sent to High Court on Saturday.

At a programme of Diplomatic Correspondent Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club, Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard said the Bangladesh government did not seek any information of Bangladeshis who have bank accounts in Switzerland.

Later, a High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed an order on a suomuto (voluntary) move, following reports published on different newspapers on the statement made by the Swiss envoy.

The HC wanted to know why the Bangladesh government and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) did not seek any information. The court asked the government and the ACC to reply about this.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said the speech of Switzerland ambassador to Bangladesh about Bangladeshis’ bank accounts in Switzerland is not true.

“The governor of Bangladesh Bank and finance secretary informed us they sought information but the bank authorities did not respond”, he said.