CSOs demand Public Expenditure Review Commission to combat corruption

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Dhaka have called for the establishment of a Public Expenditure Review Commission to stop unbearable corruption.

At a press conference held at the Economic Reporters’ Forum auditorium, they said annual income tax evasion amounts to nearly $25 billion and it is enough to quadruple the per capita health allocations.

EquityBD, Bangladesh Krishok Federation, CSRL, NDF, Sundarban Surokkha Andolon, Trinomul Unnayan Sangstha, and Water Keepers Bangladesh organised the event. It was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, chief moderator of EquityBD, with Md Ahsanul Karim Babor, director of COAST Foundation, presenting the keynote, according to a press release.

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 at the press conference.

In his keynote speech, Md Ahsanul Karim raised several demands: a Public Expenditure Review Commission must be formed to stop corruption; an Inter-country Bank Transparency Agreement must be launched to prevent capital flight and black money, two major concerns for Bangladesh; citizens with dual nationality must submit their asset and bank statements annually; and instead of reducing subsidies as forced by lenders, the government must eliminate unnecessary and irrational public expenditures.

While moderating the session, EquityBD’s Chowdhury said that by stopping income tax evasion, which is nearly $25 billion, the government would be able to double the social safety net programme for the poor or quadruple the per capita health allocation.

He also urged for the reinstatement of the law requiring annual wealth statements by public servants and capital punishment for corruption.

Bangladesh Krishok Federation’s Alam said that while the IMF recently lent Bangladesh 4.7 billion dollars, it forced the government to stop the electricity subsidy without addressing unnecessary and irrational public expenditures.

Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University’s Ali said that the government should not reduce subsidies as they are essential for people’s well-being. Rather, the government should invest in life-saving services like water, health, and electricity to improve the quality of life.

Economic Reporters’ Forum’s Rahman said that those assigned to stop corruption and black money often left the country with a lot of assets and money.

NDF’s Rana of NDF said, “Now is the time to raise our voices and stop capital flight.”

EquityBD’s Chowdhury emphasised that curbing income tax evasion, estimated at $25 billion annually, could significantly enhance social safety nets and health allocations.

He also advocated for reinstating the law requiring annual wealth statements by public servants and enforcing capital punishment for corruption.