http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=109380&date=2010-08-18

The National Coordination Committee (NCC) on anti-money laundering will review two major issues at its maiden meeting scheduled for today (Wednesday) at the Ministry of Finance (MoF), a high official said.

The issues are -- inclusion of the stock dealers, merchant banks and portfolio managers in the existing list of reporting organizations for suspicious transaction and empowering the police to investigate into anti-money laundering offences.

The members of the NCC including the chairmen of Anti-corruption Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, governor, Bangladesh Bank, attorney general of Bangladesh, principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, chairman, National Board of Revenue, secretaries of Finance Division, Banking and Financial Institutions, MoF, secretaries of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Law and Parliamentary Affairs are expected to attend the meeting to be chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

The government formed the 12-member NCC in the first week of the current month to amend the existing Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2009 and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act, 2009 to comply with international standard, sources said.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has been made convener of the NCC.

The NCC was formed in the backdrop of a report, submitted recently by Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF in its report said Bangladesh has not yet attained the international standard in containing money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

The FATF, an inter-governmental body formed to develop and promote national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, in its report said Bangladesh is still non-compliant in at least 10 key areas in attaining international standard, an official said.

Besides the FATF, Asia Pacific Group (APG) on money laundering, in their recently concluded Mutual Evaluation Report also expressed dissatisfaction over the poor level of legislation to curb money laundering crimes in the Bangladesh, he said further.

The international watchdog groups, including FATF, have asked the government to attain the international standard in combating financial crimes by October this year or at least submit the government's action plan to them before its plenary secession due in October this year to avert any negative campaigns by international groups against Bangladesh, a BB official said.

Currently, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and money changers have to report to BB on any suspicious transaction.

The NCC will review whether offences like insider trading and market manipulation, financing in terrorist activities, food adulteration, environmental pollution, sexual harassment and organised crimes have been brought under the purview of Money Laundering Prevention Act or not.

"Today's meeting is of great importance as the top bosses of major organizations will okay the amendments to be brought in two Acts before placing them in the Cabinet meeting and Parliament," a high official in the MoF said.

"A Working Committee is likely to be formed at the meeting to do the job."