CPD criticises amnesty for black money in proposed budget

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has strongly criticised the government's proposal to allow the legalisation of undisclosed income, stating it undermines the spirit of the July uprising.

The independent think tank made the remarks during its analysis of the proposed national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year, which was presented by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on behalf of the interim government.

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday held at Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka, CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun said, “We have consistently maintained that allowing the legalisation of black money discourages honest taxpayers.”

She stressed that tax authorities should focus on strict enforcement of existing tax laws rather than offering opportunities that could incentivise tax evasion.

“This provision goes against the very spirit of July,” CPD reiterated, referencing the historical significance of the July uprising in the context of justice and fairness.

Dr Fahmida further pointed out that similar initiatives in the past have failed to significantly boost revenue collection.

“If any government chooses to offer such an amnesty, it must be clearly defined as a one-time measure,” she added, warning against the institutionalisation of such policies.