Dhaka seeks Swiss cooperation in recovering laundered money, police reform

Published : Wednesday, 25 March, 2026 at 5:59 PM Count : 5

Bangladesh has sought Switzerland’s cooperation in recovering funds laundered abroad and advancing police reforms.

The cooperation was sought during a meeting between Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at the secretariat on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including law and order, security and counterterrorism efforts, as well as the practice of parliamentary democracy.

They also discussed reforms in policing and other sectors, financial sector reforms, prevention of money laundering, and measures to tackle scams and digital fraud.

Mentioning that improving law and order remains the government’s top priority, the home minister said that the administration is committed to fostering genuine parliamentary democracy.

“All political parties have the right to hold meetings and rallies but these must be conducted responsibly to avoid public suffering,” he said.

Criticising the previous regime, he said law enforcement agencies had been excessively used against political parties which he termed unfortunate.

Ambassador Renggli expressed Switzerland’s willingness to provide technical and strategic support to enhance police capacity and advance reforms.

He also inquired about the challenges in implementing the government’s reform agenda and stressed the importance of making parliament more effective, noting that peaceful debate is essential for democratic progress.

Referring to his recent participation in the Global Fraud Summit 2026 held in Vienna on 16-17 March, the minister said digital scams now account for around 40% of global fraud.

He also described it as a worldwide crisis that cannot be tackled without cross-border cooperation.

The ambassador also identified digital fraud as a growing concern and underscored the need for coordinated international efforts.

Joint Secretary (Political-1) at the Home Ministry Rebeka Khan and Counsellor at the Swiss Embassy Alberto Giovanetti, among others, were present at the meeting.

Later, Regional Director for South Asia of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Kristian Hölge held a separate meeting with the home minister.

FP/MI