Lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties on Sunday came down hard on the budgetary proposal to legalise laundered money only with 7 per cent tax.

They slammed Finance Minister Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal for making the proposal in the budget of FY2022-23.

Jatiya Party MP elected from Sunamganj Pir Fazlur Rahman demanded legal action against the money launderers.

He said legal action should be taken against those who looted and smuggled money abroad.  Otherwise, there was no need for anti-money laundering law.

Also read: Law bars asking questions about laundered money: Finance Minister

“Money laundering has also increased.  The finance minister has tried to save the lives of the people in the budget that he presented during this coronation period.  On the other hand, thousands of crores of taka have been smuggled out of this country, which he could not stop.”

He said that steps have been taken to give impunity for those who stole money, embezzled money and smuggled it abroad.

“This is not supportable at all,” he said.

Fazlur said that the finance minister should have prevented money smuggling during the transition period. But he failed there."

He said that if laundered money is allowed to return to Bangladesh legally, then money laundering laws are not needed in Bangladesh. 

He mentioned that people suspect that a large group of people are sitting around to smuggle money abroad and their ill motive will be successful.

“This will encourage the people to earn money through illegal means,” he added.

He said that if this amnesty given to the money launderers then they will become the highest taxpayers.

Another Jatiya Party MP elected from Gaibandha Shameem Haider Patwary asked the finance minister to rethink the matter.

He questioned about the fate of ongoing cases after passage of this amnesty.

“There should be a policy this amnesty can not be availed if there is any specific allegation of money laundering,” he said.

The Jatiya Party MP mentioned that such kind of amnesty was given in India that failed to bring any success.

Gonoforum MP elected from Sylhet Mokabbir Khan demanded  punishment to the top 12 corrupts of the country.

“By this we will be able to bring down 50 percent corruption in the country, otherwise I will resign from the Parliament,” he said.

Also read: Budget FY23: Laundered money to be legalized by 7-15 pc tax

He alleged that the government is taking actions against some small fries like clerk and driver.

“But the authority has no courage to touch the big corrupt people who earned thousands of crores of taka staying in the big posts,” he said.

Ruling Party MP elected from Cumilla Pran Gopal Dutta requested the finance minister to revise the proposal of giving amnesty to the money launderers.

“There is no positive impact of this matter, those who siphoned money  abroad, if they were honest they would keep their money in the country,” he said.

He mentioned that the finance minister should keep in mind that thieves never listen to religious message.