Knowledge Hub

Resources, Regulatory References
& Expert Articles

Official AML/CFT, sanctions, trade finance, Bangladesh regulatory references and practitioner-written articles โ€” curated for CAMS and CDCS candidates.

Resource categories: CAMS Resources ยท CDCS Resources ยท Sanctions Resources ยท Bangladesh AML/CFT Resources ยท Blog & Articles
๐Ÿšจ Global Sanctions Lists

Official, regularly updated sanctions lists from the world's primary regulatory bodies. Essential for AML/CFT compliance professionals and CAMS candidates.

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United Nations
UN SC Consolidated Sanctions ListLive
The definitive list of all individuals and entities subject to UN Security Council sanctions โ€” asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargoes. Updated regularly.
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United Nations
UN Sanctions Search PortalLive
Official UN search tool to check individuals and entities against the consolidated UNSC sanctions list by name, nationality, or identifier.
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United Nations
ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Dedicated UNSC list for individuals and entities associated with ISIL, Al-Qaida, and affiliated groups โ€” updated following each Committee decision.
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US Treasury โ€” OFAC
SDN List Search โ€” OFACLive
Office of Foreign Assets Control Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. The most comprehensive US sanctions database โ€” search by name, country, or program.
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US Treasury โ€” OFAC
SDN List โ€” Full PDF Download
Complete downloadable Specially Designated Nationals list in PDF format. Includes all names, addresses, aliases, and sanction program references.
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US Treasury โ€” OFAC
OFAC Sanctions Programs & Countries
Overview of all active US sanctions programs by country and topic โ€” Iran, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, and more. Essential CAMS reference.
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European Union
EU Sanctions MapLive
Interactive map of all EU restrictive measures by country and entity. Comprehensive overview of EU autonomous and UN-aligned sanctions regimes.
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European Union
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List
Complete EU list of sanctioned persons and entities subject to asset freezes. Updated whenever the Council adopts new restrictive measures.
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European Union
EU Sanctions โ€” Open Data Download
Machine-readable EU sanctions data in XML, CSV, and PDF formats. Ideal for compliance teams integrating sanctions screening into internal systems.
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United Kingdom โ€” OFSI
UK Sanctions List (OFSI)Live
Post-Brexit UK autonomous sanctions list maintained by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). Includes financial sanctions targets.
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Bangladesh โ€” BFIU
BFIU โ€” Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit
AML/CFT circulars, targeted financial sanctions, and blacklists issued by Bangladesh Bank's Financial Intelligence Unit under MLPA 2012.
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World Bank Group
World Bank Debarred Firms List
Firms and individuals debarred and sanctioned by the World Bank Group for fraud, corruption, and misconduct in development projects.
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ AML/CFT Regulatory Resources

Authoritative sources for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance โ€” essential for CAMS candidates and banking professionals.

๐Ÿ“‹ Trade Finance Resources

Official publications, rules, and references for CDCS candidates and trade finance professionals โ€” UCP 600, ISBP, Incoterms, and more.

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉ Bangladesh AML/CFT Legal & Regulatory Resources

Official and high-relevance Bangladesh AML/CFT/PF resources for banking, compliance and CAMS candidates. Always verify the latest circular or amendment from the official source before relying on it professionally.

๐Ÿ“ Expert Articles

Practitioner-written articles on AML/CFT and Trade Finance โ€” bridging global standards with Bangladesh's banking reality. Written by our co-founders.

AML/CFT
Understanding the FATF 40 Recommendations: A Practical Guide for Bangladesh Banking Professionals

The FATF 40 Recommendations form the bedrock of every AML/CFT compliance framework worldwide โ€” including Bangladesh's MLPA 2012. This article breaks down what each pillar means in practice for bankers at the frontline.

Md. Ahsan Habib, CAMS, CDCS8 min read โ†’
Sanctions
UN, EU & OFAC Sanctions: What Every Bangladesh Compliance Officer Must Know

Sanctions compliance is no longer optional for Bangladeshi banks with correspondent banking relationships. This article explains the three major sanctions regimes, their differences, and your obligations under each.

Md. Ahsan Habib, CAMS, CDCS10 min read โ†’
Trade Finance
UCP 600 Article 14 Demystified: The Five Banking Day Rule and Document Examination

Article 14 of UCP 600 is the heart of documentary credit operations โ€” and the most tested topic in the CDCS exam. This deep-dive explains the five banking day rule, the examination standard, and the preclusion principle with real examples.

Omar Faruqe, CDCS, CETS12 min read โ†’
AML/CFT
Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML): Red Flags Every Trade Finance Banker Must Recognise

TBML is the largest and most complex form of money laundering globally โ€” estimated at $1โ€“2 trillion annually. This article explains the four primary techniques: over/under-invoicing, over/under-shipment, multiple invoicing, and phantom shipments.

Md. Ahsan Habib, CAMS, CDCS11 min read โ†’
Trade Finance
Bill of Lading vs Sea Waybill: Key Differences Every CDCS Candidate Must Know

The distinction between a negotiable bill of lading and a non-negotiable sea waybill is one of the most fundamental โ€” and frequently misunderstood โ€” concepts in trade finance. This article clarifies the differences with practical examples.

Omar Faruqe, CDCS, CETS9 min read โ†’
AML/CFT
KYC, CDD & EDD: Building a Robust Customer Due Diligence Framework Under MLPA 2012

Bangladesh's Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012 mandates KYC and CDD for all financial institutions. This article explains the three-tier framework โ€” standard CDD, simplified CDD, and Enhanced Due Diligence โ€” with Bangladesh Bank's requirements.

Md. Ahsan Habib, CAMS, CDCS10 min read โ†’
Trade Finance
Incoterms 2020: Understanding Risk Transfer in International Trade Transactions

Incoterms 2020 define who bears risk and cost at each stage of an international shipment. This article walks through all 11 terms โ€” EXW through DDP โ€” with practical examples and their implications for documentary credit operations.

Omar Faruqe, CDCS, CETS13 min read โ†’
Compliance
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs): Identification, Risk Assessment & Enhanced Due Diligence

PEP management is one of the highest-risk areas in AML compliance โ€” and a guaranteed CAMS exam topic. This article covers FATF's definition of PEPs, domestic vs foreign PEPs, the risk-based approach to EDD, and Bangladesh's specific requirements.

Md. Ahsan Habib, CAMS, CDCS9 min read โ†’
Trade Finance
Transferable vs Back-to-Back Letters of Credit: Structures, Uses & Key Differences

When a middleman is involved in a trade transaction, two LC structures come into play: transferable LCs under UCP 600 Art 38, and back-to-back LCs. This article explains both structures, their legal frameworks, and when each is appropriate.

Omar Faruqe, CDCS, CETS11 min read โ†’
AML/CFT
Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) in Bangladesh: Filing Obligations, Thresholds & Best Practices

Filing accurate, timely STRs to the BFIU is a core legal obligation for all Reporting Organisations under MLPA 2012. This article covers the legal framework, red flag indicators, the STR filing process in Bangladesh, and what happens after you file.

Md. Ahsan Habib, CAMS, CDCS10 min read โ†’