Wednesday, October 27, 2010

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=160135

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at the opening session of APG Typology Workshop 2010 at a city hotel yesterday.Photo: PID

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for united global efforts to combat menaces like money laundering, terrorism and militancy.

Bangladesh looks forward to working closely with the Asia/Pacific Group (APG) and its member countries as well as other international organisations and their member countries for preventing money laundering, terrorism-financing and other financial crimes, she said.

The PM was addressing the opening session of APG Typology Workshop 2010 at the winter garden of Hotel Radisson in the city.

The Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) arranged the workshop in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh as a part of the 13th Typologies Meeting of APG on Money Laundering on October 26-28.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed and APG Principal Executive Officer David Shannon also spoke at the opening session, chaired by Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman.

According to an estimation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), between 2 percent and 5 percent of global GDP per year is laundered annually as the proceeds of crime, the largest sources of which are illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking, arms and human trafficking, corruption, fraud, extortion, kidnapping, theft and environmental crimes.

Some 200 senior government officials from the countries of Asia/Pacific region are attending the meeting that will provide a platform for high-level discussion and co-operation in areas of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism and will review the techniques and trends or typologies of money laundering and terrorist financing.

Addressing the function as chief guest, the premier said it requires huge sums of money to operate militants' activities.

“Therefore, it is imperative to stop terrorism-financing in order to contain their activities,” she said.

“Terrorism and militancy know no territorial borders. I always assert that terrorists have neither border nor race or creed. Hence, it is not possible for any country to combat this menace alone. It requires a united effort.”

Money laundering and terrorism-financing are multidimensional global problems that require global solutions, she observed.

The PM said Bangladesh have taken all out measures against money laundering and terrorism-financing by enacting the Money Laundering Prevention Act “Bangladesh is the first amongst the South Asian countries in enacting anti-money laundering Act.”

In order to strengthen the existing anti-money laundering Act, she said the Parliament has passed the Money Laundering Prevention and Anti-Terrorism Act 2009.

“The government of Bangladesh is fully committed to implementing the relevant international conventions, particularly the recommendations of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as well as the requirements of other relevant international agencies.”

Hasina said her government's stance against terrorism, money laundering and other financial crimes is clear and very firm. “We are committed to encountering these challenges through integrated efforts.”

She mentioned that a high-powered National Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter- Terrorism Financing headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith has been constituted.

The PM said initiatives are also underway to recover billions of taka “amassed through corruption and laundered by influential leaders and adherents of BNP-Jamaat alliance.”

The government has instructed the law enforcing agencies to make all out efforts for combating terrorist activities and terrorism- financing, she said.

“The government has already banned a number of organisations for their involvement in terrorist activities,” she said.

Hasina said that as in their previous tenure, the present government also launched all out drive against militancy and corruption.