A staggering amount to the tune of US$16.77 billion or Taka 1,286 billion has been flown out of the country in 10 years from 2002 to 2011 through illicit money transfer, according to a study conducted by the Washington-based Global Financial Integrity (GFI).The highest, during the decade in a single year, amount of over US$ 2.86 billion or Taka 211 billion was gone out of Bangladesh through illicit money transfer in 2011. The second highest amount of money-over US$ 2.58 billion or Taka 206 billion had been laundered abroad in 2007.Meanwhile, London-based Christian Aid in its latest report said, “Bangladesh lost US$ 359 million tax money from 2005 to 2007 in its trade with USA and EU countries due to over and under invoicing.” Citing cost of imports figure of the last two years, some economists said that money laundering has been continued under cover of import trade. They said that the price of consumer goods has been reduced in the international market during the last two years. Besides, value of US dollars has also been reduced against Taka during the corresponding period. In such a situation, experts said revenue collection through import tax should be higher if cost of import is increased.But, Bangladesh Bank figure shows a different picture. During July to October in 2012-13 financial year, the total cost of import was US$ 10,959 million, which has increased to US$ 12,214 million during the corresponding period of the current fiscal. The figure shows a year on year increase of 11.45 per cent in import cost, while import tax collection has reduced by 1 per cent during the same period of current fiscal.The import tax collection, during the July-November period in 2012-13 fiscal, was Taka 53.77 billion while the amount reduced to Taka 53.21 billion in the corresponding period of current fiscal. The inconsistencies between import tax collection and increase of total cost of import suggests that money laundering is being taking place. In the meantime, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has received complains of money laundering against 172 Bangladeshis in three years from 2011 to 2013. Those shifted money out of the country through illicit transactions, included businessmen, politicians and professionals, official sources said.According to the complains, the volume of money laundering in 2013 is 300 per cent higher of the amount laundered in 2011 and 2012 together, the sources added. Earlier, in late June, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a report said, “Bangladesh is among the eight (under) developing countries, whose illicit financial flows drain scarce resources and undermine efforts to achieve sustainable development.”The other seven countries are Nepal, Bolivia, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia.
