Staff Reporter :Experts at a dialogue on Saturday said TK 80 thousand crore was siphoned off abroad in 2013 from Bangladesh.”We will have to investigate that why the money is being siphoned off abroad and who were behind it. We should love our country. Otherwise, the money equivalent to our national budget will be laundered within five years,” Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President FBCCI said at in the city. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the dialogue on “Illicit Financial Flows in the Context of Bangladesh” in the city on Saturday with Debapriya Bhattacharya in the chair. The experts the government will have to ensure investment-friendly environment, political stability, good governance and security for the country’s businessmen. If the business people are ensured with full support, they will be discouraged to go abroad for investment, they added. Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, former governor, Bangladesh Bank, Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government and Dr A B Mirza Azizul Islam, former Advisor to the Caretaker Government also took part in dialogue. Towfiqul Islam Khan, Research Fellow, CPD gave a presentation to initiate the discussion. ABM Mirza Azizul Islam said steps should be taken to improve the investment-friendly environment in the country to prevent money laundering. At the same time, tax law and other related policies should be reformed in order make businesspeople trusted. Dr Akbar Ali Khan said “A coordination among the Anti-Corruption Commission, Customs Intelligence, Bangladesh Banks and others related agencies is urgently needed to stop the illicit money flow.” Dr Mohammed Farashuddin echoing the same argument said government will have to ensure investment-friendly environment in the country. Besides, weak political culture is also a big matter behind laundering of money, he said, adding that exemplary punishment should be given those who were involved in money laundering. “Political stability is a must to create a sense of security. Besides, the government will have to encourage the businessmen by taking all out measures,” he said.
