A taskforce report has revealed that six major business groups in Bangladesh allegedly embezzled and laundered large sums of money abroad during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government, causing severe financial losses to at least 28 banks. The affected banks have signed non-disclosure agreements with several multinational firms to trace and recover the siphoned funds. The groups named in the report include S Alam Group, Aramit, Sikder Group, Beximco, Orion Group, and Nasa Group.

According to the report, these groups collectively hold the majority of the defaulted loans in the banking sector, with S Alam Group alone linked to loans worth over Tk 225,000 crore. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit confirmed evidence of large-scale fund transfers abroad. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, the interim administration restructured an inter-agency taskforce led by the Bangladesh Bank governor to recover laundered assets.

The Anti-Corruption Commission, National Board of Revenue, and police agencies are jointly investigating the financial irregularities. Civil proceedings have begun against the six groups, which account for 77 percent of total defaulted loans among 11 industrial conglomerates under scrutiny.