Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and four UK-based anti-corruption organizations have called for the immediate freezing of illegal assets held by Bangladeshis in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and several European Union nations.

In a letter addressed to the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, the groups urged swift action to recover the billions of dollars allegedly laundered from Bangladesh to countries including the UK, USA, Switzerland, EU countries, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the UAE, according to a press release on Wednesday.

The letter, co-signed by TI-UK, the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, the International Lawyers Project, Spotlight on Corruption, and TIB, stressed the importance of international cooperation with the Bangladeshi government to ensure accountability and the repatriation of these assets.

This initiative is seen as a critical step toward building a "New Bangladesh" that is transparent, accountable, democratic, and corruption-free, said the release.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, stated: "Most of the countries where corrupt money and assets from Bangladesh have been laundered are among our development, trade, and investment partners who are committed to fighting corruption both nationally and internationally. Now is the time for them to elevate those commitments by taking immediate actions to freeze illegal assets owned by Bangladeshi individuals and entities in their jurisdictions."

He further called on the governments of the UK, USA, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, EU countries, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the UAE to freeze these assets as a first step towards repatriating them to Bangladesh and holding those responsible to account.

Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, emphasized the need for the UK to demonstrate its commitment to helping developing countries like Bangladesh track down stolen assets and ensure accountability for corrupt actors. "By bolstering anti-corruption efforts at this crucial moment for Bangladesh, the UK could play a decisive role in securing the democratic and inclusive future it has promised to help achieve," she added.

Duncan Hames, Director of Policy at Transparency International UK, echoed the sentiment, urging the British government to work closely with global allies and Bangladeshi civil society to introduce a sanctions regime that freezes the assets of corrupt figures and their enablers, preventing them from enjoying their ill-gotten gains.

The letter to the UK Secretary of State on August 30 highlighted that the extensive corruption by beneficiaries of the ousted authoritarian government is now being uncovered in Bangladesh, which is currently undergoing a period of transition.

It argued that the smuggled assets rightfully belong to the citizens of Bangladesh and that recovering them is essential for fostering transparency, accountability, democracy, and inclusivity in the country's new chapter.

The letter urged the UK government to address three critical matters in support of Bangladesh's interim government. First, it called for the UK's National Crime Agency to investigate whether laundered funds from Bangladeshi individuals or companies are present in the UK and to take necessary measures, including freezing those assets, as a step toward repatriation.

Second, the organizations requested UK government assistance in reforming key Bangladeshi institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, Financial Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigation Department, National Board of Revenue, Office of the Attorney General, and law enforcement agencies to strengthen anti-corruption measures.