What US state dept says regarding S Alam Group

The United States has said imposing sanctions can be a tool to fight corruption, and also expressed encouragement for Bangladesh to root out corruption, when asked about the recent report regarding S Alam Group's alleged money laundering.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, "Generally speaking, sanctions can be a tool to fight corruption. We have other tools as well, such as freezing assets and giving partner nations information so they can prosecute cases."

At the press briefing, a journalist referred to a report published in an English daily newspaper which revealed Mohammed Saiful Alam, the owner of the S Alam Group, had laundered over one billion US dollars and established a business empire abroad.

"Statewatch.net and OCCRP have revealed the same type of reports on massive corruption and money laundering," the journalist said, asking, "Does the United States Government intend to impose new sanctions, especially on those involving corruption and money laundering?"

In response, Miller said, "So, as I said in response to a different question earlier about a different country, we never preview sanctions actions before they take place.

"Generally speaking, sanctions can be a tool to fight corruption. We have other tools as well, such as freezing assets and giving partner nations information so they can prosecute cases. And we encourage Bangladesh to root out corrupt actors operating within its borders fairly and impartially."

/KN/