‘US visa policy to curb money laundering’

Staff Reporter  :
The new US visa policy that restricts any Bangladeshi individual intended to undermine the electoral process can act as a deterrent to siphoning off money from the country, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Saturday.

“The affluent class, government employees, some big businessmen, civil society members and politicians seek visas. The visas are necessary for those whose children study abroad, for those who buy home abroad, for those who siphon off money. I hope this will reduce the trend of money laundering,” he said.

Momen said this to the journalists after attending an event as the Chief Guest at the publication ceremony of “50 Years of Bangladesh: Advances in Health”, at the International Mother Language Institute Auditorium in the capital. “Those who become the polling agents on behalf of the political parties are poor people. They don’t apply for visa,” he said.
Asked about whether the government is worried about the visa policy, he said, “Not at all. It is their matters, not ours. The US issue visa by their own responsibility. But what we expect is that the arson attack will be stopped by the visa policy.”

“You know who are involved in arson attack? They should be aware of it. Their leaders should be aware of it. It will be a boon if arson attack is reduced by the visa policy,” he mentioned.
In reply to another query whether the government would apply to the US regarding the US visa policy, he said, “We don’t need to apply to the US. We have developed the institutions to hold free, fair and impartial election. If anyone wants to help, it is good. Otherwise, we are committed to doing it.”Asked about the return of additional security arrangement for the ambassadors, Momen said, “I don’t know. But no ambassador applied to us for additional security protocol. Moreover, the diplomatic envoys have not committed any wrongdoings that they will come under attack. There is no lack of security in the country. We are not worried about.”

He, however, mentioned the previous attack on the convoy former US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat and said, “The attack on the convoy of former US ambassador Marcia Bernicat was the result of a family crisis of SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar and his brother-in-law. Later it becomes a state problem.”