TIB urges govt to drop reported plan to legalise black money

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over media reports that the government is considering reintroducing a provision to legalise black money in the FY2026-27 budget through an “unconditional amnesty” that would prevent scrutiny by authorities. The anti-corruption watchdog said the move, reportedly aimed at revitalising the housing sector, encouraging industrial investment, and accelerating economic growth would effectively normalise corruption and irregularities under state patronage. It called for the permanent abolition of the provision.

In a statement issued today, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said successive governments since independence had retained mechanisms for legalising “undisclosed income” in violation of Article 20(2) of the Constitution. According to him, the practice expanded under the previous authoritarian regime through provisions that allowed legalisation of black money either “without question” or at concessional tax rates.

While governments justified the measure on the grounds of short-term revenue gains, its long-term effect had been the entrenchment of tax evasion and the discouragement of honest taxpayers. He said the interim government formed after the July Uprising had gradually abolished the facility. The present government's reported move to reinstate it would amount to a step backwards and grant institutional legitimacy to corruption, placing the government in a controversial position despite its stated commitment to tackling graft. Referring to Clause 67 of the National July Charter 2025, Iftekharuzzaman said that BNP and other political parties had pledged to eliminate opportunities for enjoying unearned income.

He also cited BNP’s commitment to making “no compromise with corruption”, including through reforms to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). However, media reports suggest the proposed budget may include a provision allowing black money to be legalised with complete immunity from inquiry by the ACC, National Board of Revenue or other authorities. He said Recommendation 3 of the ACC Reform Commission report also called for the permanent abolition of the facility. On reports that the government is considering a general amnesty to facilitate the repatriation of laundered assets, TIB said such a measure could be considered only if individuals involved in laundering illegally obtained funds are excluded.

Those already facing money laundering cases must remain subject to legal accountability, it added. Iftekharuzzaman said a similar approach under the previous regime had failed to produce significant results and was not extended further. He urged the present government to demonstrate its stated commitment against corruption by refraining from introducing what TIB described as an unconstitutional, discriminatory and corruption-facilitating provision.