HC asks for list of dual citizenship, passport holders

The High Court has ordered the authorities concerned to submit a list of Bangladeshis holding dual citizenship or foreign passports.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohail issued the order on Monday asking the Immigration Department of the Special Branch (SB) of police to submit the list by February 28, 2021.

The order came after the Anti-Corruption Commission moved the court for the list of Bangladeshis with dual citizenship or foreign passports who are suspected of laundering money to Canada and other countries, reports BSS.

Apart from that, the court has also asked for a list of those who travel to and from the country’s three international airports in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission in court, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik appeared for the state. 

Talking to journalists, Khurshid Alam Khan said: “The High Court bench has made the superintendent of Immigration Department of the Special Branch (SB) of the Police as the respondent to the order. Apart from that, the court has also asked for a list of those who travel to and from the country’s three international airports in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.”

Earlier on November 18, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen spoke about money laundering at a press conference, following which reports were published in various media on the issue.

Taking those reports into cognizance, the court issued a ruling on November 22, in which it asked why the inaction to take appropriate action, as per the law, against government officials and businessmen involved in money laundering would not be declared illegal.

The ACC chairman, home secretary, foreign secretary, Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, the NBR chairman and Dhaka deputy commissioner were asked to respond to the ruling and submit all information, including the names and addresses of money launderers abroad, BSS reported.

On December 17, five agencies, including the ACC, placed information about money laundering before the court.

On the same day, the court again ordered more details about the money launderers.