TIB demands end to provision allowing legalisation of black money

It expects all opportunities to legalise black money will be eliminated in the interim government's budget

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the interim government to eliminate all direct and indirect provisions that allow for the legalisation of black or untaxed money through special ordinances.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, TIB condemned the repeated use of such facilities, calling them unethical, unconstitutional, and discriminatory.

“In Bangladesh, provisions to legalise black money have been introduced 21 times,” the anti-corruption watchdog said.

“This repetitive facility discourages honest taxpayers, rewards corruption, and enables its spread.”

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman noted that despite these repeated amnesty schemes, there has been no significant increase in government revenue.

“We expect the upcoming interim budget will abolish all such opportunities permanently, setting an example of integrity and reform,” he said. “We have conveyed this expectation to the finance advisor in writing and hope for a positive response.”

TIB welcomed the recent removal of the 15 percent flat tax provision that allowed undeclared income to be legalised, a change made following the fall of the Awami League government.

However, the organisation warned that several other “corruption-friendly, unconstitutional, and discriminatory” measures remain in place and should be scrapped without delay.