Shawdesh desk;

Jatiya Sangsad Whip Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon said the government traced Tk 500 crore smuggled and deposited with various foreign banks by BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his friend Giasuddin Al Mamun.

He disclosed the information taking part in thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech at the Jatiya Sangsad.

It is not possible to take back the money at this moment as eye contacts of Tarique and Mamun are needed to open from vault, he said.

Swapon, also organising secretary of Awami League, said the government was able to return Tk 40 crore which was smuggled by Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko. The FBI helped in recovery of such money, he added.

He informed the parliament that they will reveal the total amount of money smuggled by BNP leaders including Tarique and Mamun soon.

Whip Swapon said Tarique Rahman fled the country in 2007 after getting good thrashing from his uncle and uncle’s friends and Mamun is now in jail on specific charges of corruption.

“Not only Tarique and Mamun but also other leaders of BNP laundered money. All the money will be brought back soon, he said.”

Highlighting the success of the Awami League government in power generation, Swapon said “Electricity production dropped from 4,300 to 3,200 MW during the BNP regime due to looting of Tarique Rahman and Mamun. Today, Bangladesh is producing 25,000 megawatts of electricity.”