Bangladesh, April 22 -- French judicial authorities have initiated a sweeping criminal investigation into the role of Lebanese banks and their European subsidiaries in facilitating large-scale capital flight during Lebanons financial collapse. The inquiry represents a significant escalation in international efforts to hold financial institutions accountable for practices that allegedly accelerated one of the most severe economic crises in modern history.

At the center of the investigation are the French operations of major Lebanese financial institutions, including the subsidiary of Bank Audi and Banque Richelieu France. The latter is associated with Société Générale de Banque au Liban and prominent Lebanese banker An...