Bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen turned Bangladesh into a kleptocratic state: Debapriya
The White Paper Committee head says 40% of the country’s development budget has been embezzled, and 10% of the country's population controls 85% of its wealth
Bangladesh has transitioned from a crony capitalism to a kleptocratic state, said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, the head of the White Paper Committee, today (2 December).
"It is the bureaucrats, politicians, and businessmen who turned the country into such a kleptocratic state," he said at a press conference organised by the committee at the NEC Conference Room at the planning ministry in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Debapriya said, "The origin of this kleptocracy is the 2018 elections. There was no transparency in the subsequent polls. The place of accountability of local governments was damaged.
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"Despite these issues, the United Nations still believes Bangladesh's economy is sufficiently advanced to move out of the list of least developed countries [LDCs] and that there are no barriers to becoming a developing country," he added.
The press briefing was held a day after the committee, led by Debapriya, submitted the 400-page document to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday (1 December).
Responding to a question, Debapriya said bureaucrats have perpetrated the most corruption and embezzlement in recent years, followed by politicians and businessmen.
Mentioning that 40% of the development budget in Bangladesh has been embezzled, the head of the White Paper Committee said 10% of the country's population controls 85% of its wealth.
"Long-term reform initiatives cannot be implemented without ensuring the country's economic and political stability. Before the next national budget is presented, the current government must clarify its actions to reform the economy. There is a need to introduce greater accountability," he said.
"At first glance, it appears that this government may not remain in power for the next five years. However, at least a two-year action plan must be presented," Debapriya added.
At the press conference, White Paper Committee member Abu Yusuf said that even though the National Board of Revenue claims to possess a certain number of TIN certificates, the actual revenue collection does not match these figures.
"Moreover, there is no effective process in place for handling the status of these certificates or numbers when a person passes away. The revenue board has been unable to provide this information to the committee," he observed.
Abu Yusuf also said there is no clear structure outlining how various individuals, groups, or sectors have been given tax exemptions.
