Switzerland assures Bangladesh of cooperation in repatriating laundered money
The envoy described Bangladesh as a tremendously potential market for trade and investment
Switzerland has pledged to fully cooperate in repatriating illegal money deposited by Bangladeshi nationals in Swiss banks, in accordance with international standards and procedures, Swiss Ambassador in Dhaka Reto Siegfried Renggli said today (12 September).
The Swiss ambassador made the commitment during a meeting with Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry, said a press release issued by the ministry.
During the discussion, the foreign adviser sought the cooperation of Swiss authorities in identifying and recovering illegal assets held in Swiss banks by certain Bangladeshi individuals.
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Noting the recent student-led mass uprising as an astonishing development, the Swiss ambassador termed this transition an opportunity for widespread reforms in Bangladesh and assured the Swiss government's support for the reform process.
Touhid highlighted the interim government's remarkable decision to form a number of commissions to that purpose.
Both sides expressed happiness over Bangladesh's accession to the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearance and agreed to work together to uphold the human rights agenda further.
On trade and investment, the envoy described Bangladesh as a tremendously potential market and urged the need for more private sector engagements and level playing field to attract new Swiss investments.
Referring to the immense capability of the Bangladeshi youth, especially in ICT, the foreign adviser requested Swiss support in leveraging their full potential for productivity and economic growth through generating entrepreneurship and employment.
The ambassador shared the eagerness of the Swiss side in this regard.
Both sides discussed the Rohingya issue and agreed that the repatriation of the displaced people to their homeland in Myanmar with safety, security, and rights is the only solution to the crisis.
The Swiss ambassador assured more humanitarian support to the Rohingyas as well as to the host communities in Cox's Bazar.
He also handed over the original congratulatory message from the Swiss Federal Councillor to the foreign adviser.
