STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The government has decided to create a fund to compensate victims of financial irregularities by using money and assets recovered from alleged embezzlers and money launderers.

Frozen assets of accused individuals, including shares held in various banks and companies, will also be included in the fund, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.

“We have already seized substantial sums stashed in various banks by individuals under investigation or facing trial. We’ve also taken control of shares owned by fugitives and those facing charges,” he said.

The governor said the fund would be used in the public interest, with priority on the compensation to victims, chiefly depositors hurt by financial wrongdoings. It will also offer some relief to the poor, he said.

The briefing was held after a high-level meeting on anti-money laundering issues, repatriation of laundered money, and progress on the measures taken so far. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus chaired the meeting at his residence, Jamuna.

The meeting also discussed how the seized assets could be transferred to the proposed fund and managed with transparency.

While talking about progress made by the joint team to investigate 10 business groups and ousted prime Chief He

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