Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has launched a scathing attack on reports that the government is considering reintroducing a provision in the FY2026-27 budget to legalize black money through an unconditional amnesty, warning that the move would institutionalize corruption and undermine the government's anti-graft credentials.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the anti-corruption watchdog expressed "deep dismay and strong resentment" over reports that holders of undisclosed income could be allowed to legalize their wealth without facing scrutiny from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the National Board of Revenue (NBR) or any other state agency.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the reported proposal, reportedly being justified as a means to stimulate the housing sector, attract investment and boost economic growth, would have the opposite effect by rewarding wrongdoing and penalizing honest taxpayers.

"Extending the facility to legalize black money is equivalent to granting state-sponsored institutional legitimacy to corruption," he said.

Calling for the permanent abolition of all black money whitening schemes, TIB argued that such provisions violate the spirit of Article 20(2) of the Constitution and perpetuate a culture of tax evasion and impunity.

According to the organization, successive governments have repeatedly retained mechanisms for legalizing undisclosed income under the pretext of increasing revenue. In reality, however, these measures have failed to produce meaningful fiscal gains while encouraging corruption and discouraging tax compliance, it said.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman noted that the post-July uprising interim administration had moved away from such provisions, making any attempt to revive them a major policy reversal.

"Taking two steps backward for every one step forward" is how he described the reported plan, questioning what message a government elected on promises of accountability and anti-corruption reform intends to send by endorsing a policy long criticized as unethical and discriminatory.

TIB also pointed to the National July Charter 2025, under which BNP and other political parties reportedly committed themselves to eliminating opportunities for enjoying unearned income and strengthening anti-corruption measures.

The watchdog further cited recommendations of the ACC Reform Commission, which called for permanently ending facilities for legalizing black money.

Previous amnesties, it argued, generated little additional revenue while reinforcing public perceptions that corruption was being tolerated by the state.

On reports that the government is considering a general amnesty to encourage the repatriation of assets held abroad, TIB said any such initiative must exclude individuals who laundered illicitly obtained funds.

Those already facing money-laundering investigations or legal proceedings should not be allowed to benefit under any circumstances, it said.

TIB urged the government to honour its anti-corruption commitments and abandon any plan to introduce what it described as an unconstitutional, discriminatory and corruption-facilitating provision in the upcoming budget.

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