The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), in collaboration with Care Bangladesh, Qatar Charity, and ESDO, organised a workshop on “Prevention of Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism" on Saturday.
The event took place at RDRS in Rangpur, targeting senior officials from local, national, and international NGOs operating in the region, with the aim of raising awareness about the risks and prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.
The workshop was inaugurated by Mohammad Anisur Rahman, Director of BFIU.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Ikhtiar Uddin Khandaker, Director of Health & Nutrition at Care Bangladesh.
Special guests included Md. Anwar Hossain, Director of the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB), Dr. Mohammad Amin Hafiz Ahmed Omar, Country Director of Qatar Charity, and Md. Zillur Rahman, Finance Controller and Head of Compliance at Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO). Khadiza Mehnaz, Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management at Care Bangladesh, delivered the welcome speech.
In his address, Anisur Rahman said money laundering and terrorism financing are not isolated issues but global challenges.
He highlighted the vulnerability of the NGO sector in low-income countries (LDCs) to such risks, especially due to weaknesses in governance and systems.
He also pointed out that Bangladesh’s recent transition from LDC status marked a significant milestone, underscoring the importance of the NGO sector in the country’s development.
The workshop included six informative sessions, led by experts such as Md. Anwar Hossain from NGOAB, BFIU officials Mohammad Ismail Pradhan, Md. Jaynul Abedeen, and Md. Faisal Kabir, as well as Khadiza Mehnaz from Care Bangladesh.
Dr. Ikhtiar Uddin Khandaker concluded the event by stressing the importance of applying the knowledge gained to strengthen policies and frameworks aimed at preventing financial crimes.
He urged all NGOs and development agencies to remain vigilant and ensure they are not inadvertently used for money laundering or terrorist financing.
