BB should respond

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A local economist observed in course of a TV interview the other day that the total black money in this country since independence is about Tk. 7000 billion. This figure is astronomical and mind-bogling. What was the basis of this calculation?
We can't say that the assessment is the work of too fertile imagination. The economist, who mentioned this figure, is a respectable member of the Bangladesh Economic Association. He is also a professor of economics of the University of Dhaka. According to his estimate, the black money per head in this country is Tk 50,000. We do not know whether all others could acquire their shares of it. But we haven't got ours.
As it is a financial daily, we expect the FE to come up with an analytical report on the issue to remove our confusion. The Bangladesh Bank should respond to the professor's remark with a clarification giving details about the total amount of money in circulation and the suspected level of black money holding. Citizens must not be kept in the dark about a burning issue like it.
Nasreen Jahan
Mohammedpur
Dhaka.