The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Saturday demanded formation of a Public Expenditure Review Commission to eliminate corruption.
The yearly income tax evasion is nearly $25 billion, which could increase four times the per capita health allocation. Once the 2 per cent black money and capital flight is stopped, funding another Padma Bridge would be possible, they said at a press conference held at the Economic Reporters Forum auditorium in the capital.
The EquityBD, Bangladesh Krishok Federation, CSRL, NDF, Sundarban Surokkha Andolon, Trinomul Unnayan Sangstha, and Water Keepers Bangladesh, jointly hosted the press conference.
Chief Moderator of EquityBD Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
moderated the press conference where Ahsanul Karim Babor, Director of COAST Foundation presented the Keynote.
Iqbal Faruk of Water Keepers Bangladesh, ASM Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Kriskok Foundation, Mir Mohammad Ali, Associate Professor of Shere-Bangla Agricultural University, Ibnul Syed Rana of NDF, and Mizanur Rahman of Economic Reporters Form spoke among others.
In his keynote paper, Ahsanul Karim raised some demands including formation of a Public Expenditure Review Commission to stop corruption, signing Inter-country Bank Transparency Agreement to stop capital flight and black money, the two major concerns of Bangladesh, citizens having dual citizenship must submit their asset and bank statement every year, and instead of reducing subsidy forced by the lenders the government must stop the unnecessary and irrational public expenditure.
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said if the government stops income tax evasion, which is nearly $25 billion, we would be able to double the spending on social safety for the poor or increase the per capita health allocation by 4 times.
He urged the restoration of the law requiring submission of annual wealth statements by public servants and capital punishment for their corruption.
ASM Badrul Alam said that IMF which lent $4.7 billion to Bangladesh recently, forced the government to stop allocating subsidies on electricity didn prescribe to stop the unnecessary and irrational public expenditure.
Prof Mir Mohammad Ali said that the government must not reduce the subsidy as those are spent for peoples well-being. Rather, the government should invest in life-saving services like water, health and electricity to increase the quality of life.
Mizanur Rahman said that those who were assigned to stop corruption and black money left the country with a lot of assets and money.
Ibnul Syed Rana said, Its time to raise our voice to stop the capital flight.
