More than $16 billion [Tk 2 lakh crore] have been siphoned off each year from the country’s financial sector during the Awami League’s 15 years’ tenure from 2009 to 2023, according to the Committee on White Paper on the State of Economy.
The committee led by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, also a renowned economist, submitted the report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday, reveals widespread misappropriation of funds and systemic corruption over the last 15 years of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League governments.
The 24-chapter report, officially titled “Bangladesh’s Current Economic Status White Paper”, was handed over to Professor Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in the capital. The white paper findings will be shared with media on Monday.
According to sources, the report documents how vast sums were funneled out of the economy, detailing the mechanisms and networks that facilitated such misdeeds.
The committee, comprising 12 members and led by Dr Bhattacharya, was formed on August 28 after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government to evaluate the country’s economic situation.
The interim government tasked the committee with completing its findings within 90 days.
The report analyses six key areas outlined by the chief adviser’s office — public financial management, inflation and food management, external balance, energy and power, private investment, and employment.
It also examines key areas like education, healthcare, banking, taxation, mega projects, poverty, and inequality, highlighting how governance lapses have deepened economic challenges.
However, the most significant revelations concern the systematic siphoning of funds, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and reforms in public financial governance.
Committee members, including Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of CPD; Dr Selim Raihan, Prof of Department of Economics, University of Dhaka; Dr Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank; Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) and Dr M Tamim, Prof of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) were present.
