The opposition party BNP has said that the opportunity to whiten black money has been given in the budget to create opportunities for corrupt people like Aziz-Benazir who grew up in favor of the government to whiten black money.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made this comment in a press conference held on Sunday at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office regarding the 2024-25 financial year budget presented to the National Assembly.
“This budget is a budget to whiten black money. Pouring in black money has also been given impunity. No agency of the government can ask any questions of black money launderers. That is, immunity or legal exemption has been given. As a result, honest and legitimate income tax payers are discouraged and corruption is encouraged by the government,” said Mr. Alamgir.
However, after reading the written statement at the press conference, a journalist quoted the leaders of the ruling Awami League. He wants to know from Alamgir whether black money was allowed to be white even during BNP period or not.
In response Mr. Alamgir said there is a difference between black money and undisclosed income, but he does not remember what happened then. However, he claimed that the ‘total economy was the best during BNP’s tenure’.
Incidentally, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mohammad Ali presented a budget proposal of around eight lakh crore rupees for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the National Parliament last Thursday.
BNP rejected that budget in the press conference. However, the ‘Aziz-Benazir’ that the party mentioned mainly refers to former army chief General (retired) Aziz Ahmed and former police chief Benazir Ahmed.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Aziz Ahmed on corruption charges. On the other hand, in the context of the anti-corruption commission’s application, Benazir Ahmed’s huge assets have been seized by the authorities as per the court order.
However, in a video message on Facebook, Benazir Ahmed and Aziz Ahmed rejected the allegations of corruption against them in response to the media.