Media exaggerates deposit in Swiss banks: Muhith

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in a statement in Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday said that media reports on amount of money deposited by Bangladeshi nationals in Swiss banks were ‘exaggerated.’
He said that there was ‘scope of money laundering’ by depositing money in Swiss banks but reality was that Bangladeshis had ‘laundered just a little amount of money’.
Making the statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure as a minister, Muhith also said that during past several days media were carrying news that huge amount of Bangladeshi money was being laundered to Swiss banks.
‘Journalists are wrongfully saying that money is laundered and the news are creating scope of misunderstanding,’ he said.
‘I will not say money laundering does not take place but the figures media is reporting is exaggerated,’ Muhith said.
Media are saying that deposits of Bangladeshi people at Swiss banks were $694 million in 2016 and $582 million in 2015, he said.
Bangladesh Bank report to finance ministry showed that in 2016, in Bangladesh sector ‘liabilities’ of Swiss banks was Tk 1,823 crore and ‘amounts due to’ their Bangladeshi clients was Tk 5,560 Tk.
Businesses run business through banking sector and they have business relations with Switzerland. Many business activities of neighbouring countries also take places through Swiss banks as banking sector in Switzerland is developed one, he said.
‘Business relation with Switzerland is increasing and amount of business is increasing. I will not rule out the possibility of money laundering but these are not money laundering,’ Muhith said. 
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net