The BNP yesterday alleged that the deposits by Bangladeshis in Swiss banks rose sharply as the Awami League men were siphoning off their ill-gotten money there.

“The Swiss National Bank launched a series of annual reports titled 'Banks in Switzerland 2016' on Thursday revealing that deposits by Bangladeshis in different banks rose further as over Tk 5,000 crore was deposited there within a year,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, he said the AL men mainly siphoned off the money that they made through “looting and corruption”.

Referring to Finance Minister AMA Muhith's remark that the banking sector was in a very bad shape, the BNP leader said people believe that AL leaders plundered banks and deposited the money in Swiss banks.

He warned that those who siphoned off money abroad would be put on trial someday through proper investigations.

Rizvi said the finance minister cannot take actions against the money launderers as the ruling party high ups were involved in it.

He also blasted the government for its failure to identify those who indulged in plundering money from banks and other financial institutions and mete out punishment to them.

The BNP leader came down hard on Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader for his comment that this year's Eid journeys were the most comfortable in the country's history. Rizvi said the minister “mocked the sufferings of people” through making such a comment.

He said although most of the media ran news and published photos on the sufferings of holidaymakers, Quader was trying to “cover up the truth”.