HC seeks reason behind not asking for Swiss Bank depositors' info

The High Court (HC) on Thursday asked the state and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain the reason for which the information of the depositors of the Swiss Bank was not sought from the bank authorities.

A High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat issued the 'Suo-moto' (on its own motion) order. A hearing is scheduled to be held on this matter next Sunday.

Today, the court heard the statements of ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan and state lawyer Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik, and later passed the order.

The court also asked to submit the copy of the news published over the statement given by Swiss ambassador Nathalie Chuard in this regard.

On August 10, Ambassador Chuard said that the Bangladesh government did not ask for information about the money deposited in the Swiss Bank by any specific person, in response to a question at the 'DCAB Talk' program organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club.

She also said, "Switzerland is continuing the process of correcting the mistakes of Swiss Bank. But let me inform you that Switzerland is not a safe place to keep black money."

News about the statement was published in various media today. Taking note of that, the court passed the said order.