FM terms flat, land owners in Dhaka 'black money holders'

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal places the proposed national budget for FY23 at the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) on 9 June 2022
PID

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday termed the people who have flats and lands in Dhaka 'black money holders' for not disclosing the actual costs of their assets [flats and lands] while selling and purchasing.

"The reality is: the actual price of the flat is Tk 100 million, which is being shown at Tk 20 million, depriving the government of receiving additional registration fees. So, black money is being generated from here. " he claimed.

He came up with this claim while briefing newsmen following a meeting the cabinet committee on public procurement.

AHM Mustafa Kamal said, "It is the people who have land or who have purchased land can say exactly how much money was spent for registering and how much the land’s actual price is."

The minister, however, held the government and its existing system responsible for this situation.

Talking about laundered money, the finance minister said, "When the laundered money will be brought back to the country, a portion of it will be invested in the country's capital market, different mills and industries and trade and commerce."

When asked whether he is in pressure over repatriating laundered money, the minister said, "I don't feel any type of pressure. I will do what I have uttered. I don’t return from the half way. When I set incentive on remittance, many criticised my initiative saying money won’t come, money will siphon off. But money came at the end and set a record."

The minister said, "When I am trying to bring the laundered money back to the nation, it is being said that the government is allowing scope to whiten the back money. I repeatedly say that it is secret money and there is nothing to be shy. The government is responsible for this. Once, I was in charge and tried to increase the price of land in Dhaka city but I couldn't."

When asked whether the prices of fuel oil would be increased, he said, "We are yet to finalise the issue. However, the government wants to lessen the sufferings of people."