The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Adviser for Commerce drew atention recently for his comments to the press on return from a trip to the Philippines. He observed that bringing back to Bangladesh the huge resources that corrupt people including politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen had amassed and then illegally transferred abroad is a very daunting task. In his view, it is so very difficult to accomplish that the people should have litle or less expectation of sizeable return of stolen resources. Needless to say, the people were happy to see action against the suspected corrupt ones. But the Adviser's hint is that the resources that they have stolen, would not now be returning to the country or would be returning only in insignificant amounts. But the ends of justice can be served fully not only from the internment of the suspected corrupt persons but also from the return of their transferred ill-goten wealth from abroad. The economic significance of it is also quite a lot Experts have estimated that the resources transferred from the country would be quite substantial. Insiders who have been investigating into these maters also say that the experts are very possibly not exaggerating but puting it objectively.

The United Nations (UN) and World Bank (WB) have jointly launched a programme to help the developing countries to recover their stolen resources. Governments of different countries have also directly assured Bangladesh cooperation in this mater. Thus, it is not well understood why the Finance Adviser is so pessimistic about the prospects of the return of the illegally transferred resources. Surely, our investigators have to first establish that funds have illegally flowed out of Bangladesh. For doing this investigation capacities will have to be much improved. But from achieving such improved investigation capabilities, it should be possible to establish to what countries and in what amounts resources of Bangladeshi origin have been transferred. Once this task is taken care of, cooperation of the countries geting such pilfered resources can be sought for their eventual return to Bangladesh. It may take some time. But if the government remains firm and engaged firmly in the investigation process, then good results can be expected. For example, billions of dollars of Philippine's former first lady Imelda Marcos, those of the former strongman of Indonesia, General Sueharto and that of the African dictator Abacha, could be recovered. So, there is every reason for Bangladesh to hope for similar results. The main requirement in the pursuit is determination and doing the hard investigation work.

The interim government ought not to disillusion the people. It had pledged to do everything to bring back the pilfered resources of the people and the state. The government may now do the necessary follow-up if it has accurate information about pilferred resources to fulfil its pledge. The recovered resources can be of great use to the country for undertaking developmental activities for people's welfare.