Bring back Tk 28t laundered money, fix economic problems

Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman Monday urged the government to recover an estimated Tk28 trillion allegedly siphoned off the country over the past 17 and a half years, arguing that repatriating even a fraction of the money would eliminate the budget deficit.
Taking part in general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in the Jatiya Sangsad, Dr Rahman said the budget lacked a clear roadmap for recovering illicitly transferred assets.
"If we can recover even one-ninth of the money that has been siphoned abroad, there will be no budget deficit," he told parliament during the session presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.
The opposition leader says recovering the money alone would not be sufficient, insisting that those responsible for the alleged financial crimes must also be brought back to Bangladesh and prosecuted.
"The budget contains no clear guideline on the recovery of laundered assets," he says. "Not only the money, but also the culprits involved in this plunder must be brought back and brought to justice."
He alleges that the country had been "looted by five to seven major robbers" over the past 15 years and warns that unless visible legal action is taken against them, even bigger offenders could emerge in the future.
Dr Rahman urges the government to sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the countries where the assets are believed to have been transferred in order to expedite their recovery.
The opposition leader also proposes replacing Bangladesh's existing July-June fiscal year with a calendar-year budget cycle, arguing that the current system encourages rash spending toward the end of the financial year.
He points out that government agencies often accelerate spending during May and June in an effort to utilise allocated funds before the fiscal year ends, despite those months frequently coinciding with floods and other natural disasters.
"As a result, around 42 per cent of project implementation is completed hurriedly at the end of the fiscal year, creating opportunities for waste, inefficiency and corruption."
To strengthen transparency and accountability, Dr Rahman has proposed that the government submit budget- implementation-evaluation reports to parliament every three or four months.
"This would ensure greater accountability and help make the best use of taxpayers' money," he says.
Highlighting the development needs of Bhola, the country's southernmost island district, Dr Rahman describes improved transport connectivity as a fundamental right of its residents.

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