PROGRESS ON BANGLADESH AML AMEMDMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003733 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2015 TAGS: EFIN KTFN BG SUBJECT: PROGRESS ON BANGLADESH AML AMEMDMENTS Classified By: Econ Chief David Renz; reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) Central Bank Governor Salehuddin Ahmed informed econoff July 27 that he had forwarded amendments to Bangladesh's anti-money laundering law to the Finance Minister for final review. Ahmed expects the Finance Minister will convene a senior level policy meeting within the next two weeks to approve the amendments before placing them before the Cabinet. ¶2. (C) Ahmed said the draft retains many of the USG proposals provided during a December 2004 DOJ technical assistance visit, including provisions to create a financial intelligence unit and an interagency "strike force" for prosecuting cases. Ahmed touted his own role in moving the amendments forward, saying he personally revised the amendments to remove extraneous provisions concerning banking regulation generally that were suggested by industry groups, which were invited to comment on the draft. Ahmed expressed an interest in additional US technical assistance with training once the amendments are adopted. He noted, but did not accept, econoff's offer to have US experts informally review the current draft of the amendments. CHAMMAS