The High Court today observed that those who are involved in laundering money have no patriotism and they are enemies of the state and nation.
Issuing the suo muto (voluntary) rule, the HC directed intelligence agencies to take appropriate steps to stop the laundering of money.
The court ordered the respondents to submit to the court by December 17 the details -- including names and addresses -- of people who are involved in laundering money.
Chairman of the Anti Corruption Commission, secretaries concerned of the ministries of home and foreign affairs, governor of Bangladesh Bank and its financial intelligence unit, chairman of the Board of Revenue, and deputy commissioner of Dhaka have been made respondents to the rule.
The HC also issued the rule asking the respondents to explain in four weeks why their inaction to take appropriate action against the perpetrators who are involved in money laundering in violation of the law, should not be declared illegal.
Those who are involved in money laundering have no love for the country and its people and they have betrayed the state and its citizens, the HC bench said while issuing an injunction restraining perpetrators from laundering money abroad.
Appropriate action needs to be taken against them, otherwise money laundering cannot be stopped, the bench further said.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel also fixed December 17 for passing further orders on the issue.
The bench came up with the order and rule on the suo muto (voluntary) move following reports punished by The Daily Star -- alongside Bangla dailies Prothom Alo, Janakantha and Bangladesh Pratidin -- about Bangladeshi nationals buying luxurious residences in foreign countries with laundered money.
During the court proceedings, Justice Nazmul Islam Talukder said a number of businessmen, government service holders and politicians have reportedly bought luxurious residences in different foreign countries including Canada, Malaysia and Singapore by laundering money from Bangladesh in violation of the law of the land.
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik participated in the virtual proceedings of the HC bench during the issuing of the suo muto rule and order.
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