DHAKA, Aug 25, 2024 (BSS) - Adviser to the interim government on the
Ministries of Finance and Commerce Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today categorically
said that the government would not allow anyone for generating black money
anymore.

"Our decision is clear, there will be no scope to generate black money
anymore," he said.

The Adviser said this while responding to a question after holding a view
exchange meeting with the UN Representatives in Bangladesh held at the
Economic Relations Division conference room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar
in the city.

The former Bangladesh Bank governor said that if there is any scope, then
black money would be generated.

Talking about the siphoning of money, the Finance Advisor said that siphoning
of money to abroad would also be stopped. "We are taking moves to bring back
the siphoned of money," he said.

In this connection, Dr Salehuddin mentioned that the Bangladesh Bank is
working on it. "If there is any need of legal assistance the government is
there to provide," he said.

Asked about the possibility of revising the budgetary provision in this
regard, he said it is not high time to speak over the matter adding that the
budgetary matters would be reviewed later.

Replying to another question on the possibility of seeking additional support
from the IMF, Dr Salehuddin said that he along with the concerned secretaries
and central bank Governor would take part in the Annual Meetings of the IMF
and World Bank Group in October where the issue might be discussed.

He said that the government would set the priorities first before taking
loans citing that a one-year project could not be unnecessarily extended to
five years as it would put burden of loans on the government.

"We're seeking support not for wasting or misusing those," he added.

Turning to the ongoing movements by various quarters to press home their
various demands to minimize discriminations, the Adviser said, "We can't
ignore such discriminations. They were suppressed for so long and couldn't
heal their pain. None pay heed to them, and for which we didn't deter them.
If the previous government was in place, then none could go to them," he said
adding the he himself had availed the metro rail today to hold the meeting
due to the current movement surrounding the secretariat.

The Adviser said that the government would try to address those as all
problems could not be solved immediately since it is associated with some
process and implications.

Asked about the meeting outcomes with the UN representatives, he said that
the government highlighted its goal for attaining equal-based development,
pursuing growth, ensuring development in the women, gender, health and
education sectors.

"On the whole, our priorities are aligned with their programmes ...we want
the UN agencies to support us in our priority areas. It's not like that we'll
accept support in all projects whatever they suggest," he added.

The Adviser said the government wants equal-based sustainable development for
the general people where the concerned UN agencies would support the
government.

He informed that the government also sought special focus of the UN agencies
especially from UNHCR on the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.

Dr Salehuddin said the UN Agencies have also given some ideas related to
various ministries and divisions while those would be shared to the concerned
ministries and divisions later.

The meeting was also discussed about the post-flood rehabilitation
operations.

ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky and country director of ILO and Ad
interim UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen spoke, among
others, at the meeting.