special arm at NBR planned to check mis-invoicing: Kamal

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal now plans to set up a special cell at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to check money laundering through over and under-invoicing.

"…to check over pricing and under pricing, we will set up a PSI (pre-shipment inspection)-like cell at the revenue office," the minister said.

The arm will verify each and every commodity prices through the Internet, he added.

If the price difference is found minimal it will be overlooked, but if gulf of differences are found, the consignments will be forfeited, he said.

After that such consignment owners will be penalised and additionally legal actions will be taken against them, he added.

Mr Kamal unveiled the plan while talking with reporters after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on money laundering at the Bangladesh secretariat in the capital.

In Bangladesh, he said, money laundering mainly happens through the banking system and import and export.

It happens through over-invoicing and under-invoicing.

If anyone settles a letter of credit (LC) without the supply of goods, money laundering will take place.

Mr Kamal said scanners will be set up in every entry and exit points to check, which goods are imported and which are going out.

The minister said money laundering and terrorist financing have to be stemmed by any means.

The Prime Minister said she does not want to see corruption take palace anymore.

"Money laundering is also a corruption. And terrorist financing mainly happens from money obtained through corrupt means. So, we have to implement the 'No' in both cases," Mr Kamal said.

Anyone can do business, but none should be engaged in money laundering or terrorist financing, he noted.

Replying to a question, the minister said if necessary, relevant laws will be amended to stop the menace.

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