MP Rana Blames Weak Implementation, Political Interference for Nepal's Grey List Status

Kathmandu. Member of Parliament Bidushi Rana has stated that the weak implementation by the state and political interference are the main culprits for Nepal not being able to escape the grey list of money laundering. Speaking in the discussion on the Prevention of Money Laundering (Third Amendment) Bill, 2083 BS on Sunday, MP Rana said this.

She seriously drew the government's attention to the fact that Nepal's image in the international arena is becoming tarnished. MP Rana said that the decision by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting held in Paris in June 2026, which recently kept Nepal in the grey list, is worrying.

'Out of the 15-point action plan given by FATF, we have only done satisfactory work on 9 points, the remaining 6 points are as they are,' Rana questioned, 'Can this be considered a success of the state? Our economy is at risk today because the promises of policy reform have not been fulfilled.'

Presenting data from Nepal's Financial Information Unit, MP Rana informed that 9,565 suspicious transaction complaints were received in the fiscal year 2081/82 BS. This is a 30 percent increase compared to the previous year. Of these, 76 percent of the complaints came from commercial banks alone.

Claiming that black money is being widely used in cooperatives, casinos, precious metals, and real estate transactions, she said, 'Due to political interference in investigative bodies, actual criminals are escaping and the rate of investigation is pathetic.'

She warned that due to the grey list, foreign banks have tightened transactions with Nepal, foreign investors are hesitant, and the remittance-based economy is facing great risk.

'If we are not more vigilant, the 'black list' will surely suffocate our economy,' she warned.

MP Rana stated that the asset investigation committee and digital asset registration, which are part of the government's announced 100-day reform agenda, must be implemented immediately.

She demanded that the Department of Money Laundering Investigation be completely freed from political interference, strict action be taken against hawala and illegal financial transactions, and micro-monitoring be increased in high-risk areas.

MP Rana sharply criticized the government, saying, 'The state power should not become a 'detergent' to whiten black money, but should become a 'Brahmaastra' to curb corrupt individuals. It is not enough to make laws, their strict implementation is necessary.'