US focusing on global anti-graft efforts

Bangladesh has laid emphasis on more transparency and accountability over issues involving money laundering, noting that in most cases Bangladesh does not get required feedback when it comes to mutual legal assistance.

"We want all countries to cooperate… one single country or institution cannot do it," Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Masud Bin Momen told reporters after his meeting with US State Department Coordinator for Global Anti-corruption, Richard Nephew, at Foreign Service Academy on Monday.

Momen said he emphasized cooperation so that there is no impunity and adverse impact on society. The foreign secretary said the US side has invited Bangladesh to attend the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention Against Corruption in Atlanta in December this year.

He said Bangladesh will take part in the meeting where the host US will seek renewed commitment from the participating countries or institutions to jointly tackle global corruption.

Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh will also attend a meeting at G20 on similar issues and the law minister is likely to lead the Bangladesh delegation. The foreign secretary said the US side appreciated Bangladeshi organizations while Bangladesh expressed interest in collaborating more on capacity building.

Responding to a question, he said the visiting US official told him that sanctions are a tool against corruption around the world. Richard Nephew arrived in Dhaka on Sunday and met Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officials.

On Monday, he met civil society members at the US embassy. Momen said Nephew told him that the US was giving priority on global anti-corruption efforts and would, in future, tag the issue in areas of business and investment.

"We also spoke of capacity building and support of the countries that received laundered money," he said.

In July 2022, Richard Nephew was named as US coordinator on global anti-corruption. This position will integrate and elevate the fight against corruption across all aspects of US diplomacy and foreign assistance.

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