Bangladesh has called for stronger international cooperation to curb illicit financial flows and ensure the recovery of stolen assets, stressing that such resources are critical for development and public welfare.
Speaking at the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Financial Integrity at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, said the July 2024 mass uprising had renewed public demand for integrity, transparency, and accountability in public affairs.
He cautioned that so-called ‘mega projects’ often yield limited benefits for ordinary citizens while creating avenues for corruption and the diversion of public funds to overseas safe havens. According to the ambassador, these practices undermine trust in institutions and deprive countries of resources needed for inclusive growth.
Ambassador Chowdhury expressed concern over the slow and fragmented nature of international cooperation in recovering stolen assets. He urged fairer access to financial information, enhanced transparency, and stronger partnerships to ensure that misappropriated funds are returned to their rightful owners.
Referring to the outcome of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, he emphasized the need to translate political commitments into concrete action. Recovered assets, he said, should be channeled into schools, hospitals, social protection programs, and initiatives that strengthen national economies from within.
The remarks highlighted Bangladesh’s push for a more equitable global financial system rooted in accountability and shared responsibility.
