Asked whether he has any ambition to become a minister in the next government, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said he has no such desire.

Before taking up the advisory role, the economist and former governor of Bangladesh Bank taught at a private university in the capital.

They have still reserved a room for me. The driver says I can come whenever I am called. Personally, I would like to return to teaching once my advisory tenure ends, he said.

During the interaction, the issue of allocating more funds to his own constituency as an adviser also came up.

Salehuddin clarified that those projects were planned long ago and nothing was taken on his initiative.

On the issue of money laundering, he said the government is making every effort to recover funds through legal channels.

He expects some money to be returned by February.

We are giving highest priority to 11–12 cases. Among the remaining cases, those involving over Tk 200 crore are also being addressed, Salehuddin said.

Referring to assets already seized, he added, “We know where their money is, which accounts they have, and in which countries their passports are held. Now it is just a matter of time to complete the remaining work.”

Salehuddin also said the next government would continue initiatives to recover the laundered funds.