The Finance and Commerce Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, reiterated the government’s firm stance against the generation and legitimization of black money, emphasizing that there would be no provisions in the budget to legalize undisclosed wealth.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with representatives of various development partners at the National Economic Council (NEC) conference room in Dhaka, Dr. Ahmed declared, “Our stand is no scope will be given to generate black money.”

He further stated that the government is actively working to recover laundered money, with the central bank taking the lead in this effort. Dr. Ahmed also outlined the government’s approach to foreign loans, stressing that loans would be taken selectively to avoid accumulating excessive debt. He pointed out the importance of avoiding projects where costs and timelines escalate unnecessarily, remarking, “No foreign loans will be taken where a one-year project completes in five years.”

In his discussion with development partners, Dr Ahmed highlighted the importance of sustainable, equality-based development, especially in the agriculture, energy, and climate sectors. He noted that the United States and the United Nations provide grants to Bangladesh, which the government would continue to utilize strategically.

Addressing ongoing protests in the capital, the Finance Adviser acknowledged the protesters’ grievances, stating, “We cannot ignore those who are agitating. We can’t ignore discrimination, we can’t ignore them.” He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing these issues, noting that many of the raised concerns had been ignored for too long.

Dr. Ahmed also met with Helen LaFave, the Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka, where he urged increased US investment in key sectors, including agriculture and climate resilience. He highlighted the importance of US support, particularly given the absence of debt owed to the US, as all previous assistance has been in the form of grants. “We have no debt to the US. All the help they gave us was grants. That is why I told them to help more,” he stated.