ZCZC
BSS-29
HASAN-BEGUM-ZIA
Why Begum Zia whitened black money, Hasan asks BNP
DHAKA, May 28, 2021 (BSS) – Information and Broadcasting Minister
and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today came
down heavily on opposition BNP for criticising the government for
giving the scope of whitening block money in the next budget.
“Why did Begum Zia whiten black money?” he questioned while
speaking at a COVID-19 safely gears distribution programme, arranged
by AL subcommittee on relief and social welfare affairs, at the AL
President’s Political Office in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan said BNP chairperson Begum
Khaleda Zia herself made black money white, and asked a question to
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir saying what would be
the answer of it.
The information minister mentioned that late Saifur Rahman, who was
the finance minister during the tenures of Abdus Sattar, Ziaur Rahman
and Khaleda Zia, also gave the scopes of whitening the black money in
national budgets.
He asked the BNP leaders to answer first why they whitened black
money themselves and then criticise the government.
For the sake of economy, Hasan said this opportunity is given to
legalise the “undisclosed money” in many countries of the world,
including Europe, the USA, India and Pakistan.
“It’s not that I fully support it (the scope of whitening back
money) forever, but in fast-growing and developing economy like us,
this opportunity has been given for the greater interest of economy,”
he added.
The AL joint general secretary said BNP should applause the
government since the GDP growth of Bangladesh increased even amid the
coronavirus pandemic. The per capita income of the country’s people
also surpassed the neighboruing India, he added.
Reiterating that the Awami League always stands by people during
disasters, he said during the first wave of COVID-19, the BNP leaders
sometimes pretended to stand by people and used to hold photo sessions
to show off.
“Even they don’t do so now. They are busy in criticising the
government,” Hasan added.
Chaired by AL relief and social welfare secretary Sujit Roy Nandi,
the function was addressed, among others, by AL organising secretary
SM Kamal Hossain, subcommittee member Md Shahjalal, acting secretary
general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Md Abdul
Majid.
Later, the COVID-19 safety goods were handed over to the
representatives of Chapainawabganj, Sherpur, Meherpur, Satdhira
districts and Moralganj.
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