BANGLADESH'S FINANCE MINISTRY PARTIALLY ADDRESSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 000858 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB WHITE HOUSE FOR USTR VKADER COMMERCE FOR SLEWIS-KHANNA, DFONOVICH NEW DELHI FOR FAS DOJ FOR OPDAT, LSAMUEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2019 TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD PGOV EAGR PTER KTFN KCRM EAID BG SUBJECT: BANGLADESH'S FINANCE MINISTRY PARTIALLY ADDRESSES AMNESTY CONCERNS REF: DHAKA 686 - GOB BUDGET Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Bangladesh's Finance Minister maintains the government's revised tax amnesty does not violate international standards or domestic laws against money-laundering and anti-terrorism finance. In a recent letter to the Ambassador and other diplomatic Heads of Mission in Dhaka, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit responded to concerns that the tax amnesty approved June 30 by Parliament as part of its budget package permitted Bangladeshis to legitimize previously undisclosed income, regardless of the source. Though the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) amended slightly the tax amnesty language and Bangladesh Bank, the central bank, promised to issue instructions to financial institutions regarding the disclosure of sources of funds, the tax amnesty does not rigorously close corruption loopholes and could permit the laundering of the proceeds of crimes and facilitate the funding of terrorist acts. End Summary. GOB Seeks to Placate Diplomats -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador and seven other Heads of Mission in a June 23 letter raised concerns about a proposed tax amnesty that would permit individual and corporate taxpayers in Bangladesh to "whiten" so-called "black money" regardless of the source of funds. In the letter and in discussions with GOB officials, diplomats noted that the proposed legislation contravened both international standards laid down to prevent financial crimes and Bangladesh's own laws on money-laundering and terrorism finance (reftel). The GOB's money-whitening legislation, which allegedly aimed to encourage investment and economic growth, was broadly condemned by many in Bangladesh as simply an opportunity for politicians to legitimize the proceeds of corruption. GOB Offers One-Year Tax Amnesty -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Bangladesh's Finance Minister responded to the diplomats' concerns in a July 28 letter, noting the revised legislation - which passed June 30 as part of the GOB's budget package - had "adequate provisions" that balanced declaration of undisclosed income with combating money laundering and terrorism financing. He explained the amnesty was conditional, restricted to one year, and did not compromise Bangladesh's anti-money-laundering and anti-terrorism laws. (Note: The full text of the Finance Minister's letter is repeated in paragraph 6. End note.) Will Bangladesh Bank Help or Not? -------------- ¶4. (C) In Mission Dhaka's view, the revised tax amnesty legislation no longer explicitly overrides domestic laws on money-laundering and terrorism finance; however, it still provides some cover to those who would wish to hide the sources of their income. At a July meeting of the Asia Pacific Group (APG),an international body affiliated with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that seeks to implement international standards to prevent financial crimes, Bangladesh Bank pledged that the bank would issue rules to ensure that financial institutions continued to: -- implement laws that combat money-laundering and terrorism finance; -- exercise due diligence over customers and transactions; and, -- verify sources of income. Since the APG meeting, however, Bangladesh Bank has denied it DHAKA 00000858 002 OF 003 committed to issuing such regulations. Bank officials said, rather, they would verbally instruct financial institutions to continue these practices. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Despite the fact that many GOB officials opposed the tax amnesty, the GOB is moving forward with the "money-whitening" program. The vague wording of the revised legislation and Bangladesh Bank's apparent backtracking on clarifying rules mean the tax amnesty could be a loophole for corruption, criminality and terrorist financing. Mission Dhaka will continue to press the GOB to apply its laws against financial crimes and improve its adherence to international financial standards; we will also monitor closely the implementation of the tax amnesty program. We will also reiterate to the GOB that, if necessary, the APG and FATF could recommend member nations, including the United States, sanction Bangladesh. Full Text of the Finance Minister's July 28 Letter -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Begin text: Excellencies, Please refer to your letter of June 23, 2009 with regard to the tax amnesty clauses of the draft amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance of 1984, as proposed in the budget speech. I had assured you that a satisfactory resolution of your concern would be made. In fact, long before I received your letter, the anomaly had drawn our attention and we were thinking of ways to take care of it. I appreciate your concern on the issue and thank you for highlighting the implications of the enactment leading to possible violation of international financial crime standards. I believe that while finalizing the budget proposals, we made adequate provisions to find a balance between declarations of undisclosed income and pursuit of crimes involving money laundering and financing of terrorism. The present Government was swept into power on the promises of lifting the poor out of the clutches of poverty by putting the country on a higher trajectory of growth. You will appreciate that one of the fundamental imperatives of a resource-poor country like Bangladesh is to secure maximum growth, which can only be ensured by higher investment of domestic as well as foreign resources. The amendments were aimed at pooling in resources, which remained outside the formal sector of the economy. The Government, however, took into cognizance concerns as that of yours and those of many quarters from within the country like business, civil society, intelligentsia, and others. Elaborate discussions in the Parliament and in civil society led us to modify the original proposals. The scheme now provides for conditional amnesty granted under Income Tax Ordinance of 1984 only and restricted to one year. This is in alignment with the practice followed earlier to promote investment, employment generation, economic growth, and poverty reduction. I may add further that this opportunity was also given to investors when Money Laundering Prevention and Anti-Terrorism Legislations were in force as ordinances without compromising the provision of these laws. In order to strengthen the drive against money laundering and clandestine financing of terrorism and other illegal activities and at the same time recovering resources smuggled out of the country, special steps are being taken in several fronts. He investigative work of Bangladesh Bank and the National Board of Revenue is being streamlined and intensified. A separate government unit for taking care of legal as well as international aspects of the drive is under process. DHAKA 00000858 003 OF 003 I thought of discussing the issue with you after the passing of the budget but as it was getting late in setting up this meeting I thought that I should provide you with a statement on the subject. You can be rest assured that the government is committed to zero tolerance for corruption. And controlling and eliminating terrorism is a matter of the highest concern to us. With my warmest regards and highest compliments. End text. MORIARTY