Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over the "potential discriminatory implications" of some of the conditions on which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is proposing its $4.5 billion loan to Bangladesh.
TIB has also called upon the lender to be consistent with its own policy against corruption and money laundering, according to UNB.
In a media statement issued on Saturday, TIB drew the attention of the IMF negotiating team to the potential distributive injustices of some of their proposed conditions, like the reform of subsidies on fuel, fertiliser, electricity, and gas.
Such measures, and indeed the whole package of conditions, must be designed in a manner that does not, in reality, add further discriminatory impacts on the already overburdened common people, it said.
Referring to the global lender's policy obligations, Executive Director of TIB, Iftekharuzzaman said it is disappointing that the IMF appears to be inconsistent with its own policy and failing to mainstream concrete strategic measures to promote better governance in general and prevent corruption and money laundering in particular.
"Without such measures, their package of conditions is not only unlikely to achieve the intended purpose but will also add adverse discriminatory impact on the already overburdened people," he said.
The TIB chief further said that while the imposition of conditions, which are often tough and unpleasant, is an indispensable part of the IMF's lending business, the question is whether the package represents a strategy that puts public interest first or, on the contrary it is counterproductive for the people.
"The IMF team is rightly concerned about the low tax-GDP ratio of Bangladesh. But it appears to bank mainly on VAT as the prescription which is known for its discriminatory impact," reads the statement.
On the other hand, TIB said, there is no indication of any possible measures to prevent and control widespread tax evasion and money laundering, especially misinvoicing-based illicit transfers.
Adoption of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for automatic exchange of information on financial transactions within and across borders is one such missed opportunity.
"IMF has a commitment to specifically and forthrightly address corruption and money laundering. We expect the international lender to practice what it preaches," said Zaman.
