Letters to the Editor
Economic black hole
The figures given in “Liberal act, little gain,” (TDS, 9 June) were quite interesting. In 42 years, from 1971 to April 2013, a total of black money worth Tk. 3,575 crores was declared and 1,407 crores tax collected. However, in less than 2 years between 2007 and 2009, 9,683 crores were declared and 911 crores tax collected. This means that 72% of black money was detected and 65% tax collected during the last caretaker government.
The inference is obvious. In the entire history of all Bangladeshi governments -- fascists, dictators, democrats and democratic/dictators (1991-2013), only the last CTG (2007-09) were really serious about going after the black money purveyors in the short time they were at the helm. That leaves the 'paltry' sum of 415,194 crores (according to the FM) floating around in a black hole insatiably gulping down all the white money. There is thus sufficient scope for 'compromises' open to this and successive governments.
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