<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The government is reviewing the economic situation of the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“With the preliminary symptoms, it seems that the country’s economic situation is moving towards improvement,” Finance Minister AH Mahmud Ali said in Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>He made the statement while responding to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker elected from Kishoreganj Sohrab Uddin.</div><div><br></div><div>The Minister hoped that in the next few days the total scenario of country’s economy will be clear.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In his question Sohrab Uddin said that the country's economy is in turmoil due to the dollar crisis and money laundering.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is a need to allow undisclosed money for legalising to face the crisis of money due to money laundering,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that this sort of opportunity was also provided in the past under special arrangements.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sohrab Uddin wants to know whether the government will give an opportunity to legalise undisclosed income through paying extra tax to prevent money laundering and eliminate the dollar crisis.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“However, it is not black money, but legal and undisclosed income,” said the independent MP.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, the finance minister said that the government is reviewing the entire thing.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Not only the black money, but the entire economic situation is under review. After seeing the initial symptoms, it seems to be that we are heading towards improvement. After a few more days, I will get a complete picture. Until then, please be patient,” he said</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the written questions of Independent Member elected from Kusthia-4 Abdur Rauf, Ali said that some 36.62 lakh people have submitted income tax returns in the country till January, 2024.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the question of another independent member of parliament, Hushamuddin Chowdhury, the finance minister said that the number of TIN holders across the country is 99.70 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>“But some 36.62 lakh returns have been submitted and some Tk 5901 crore was deposited in the national exchequer,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Ali, responding to a question of independent member Saiful Islam, said that some 56 projects are going on with the financial assistance of the World Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question of his question, the finance minister said that as a result of the government's action, point-to-point inflation has started decreasing gradually from November 2023.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to the latest data, point-to-point inflation stood at 9.41 percent in December, while it was 9.74 percent in June, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Answering to ruling party lawmaker Samil Uddin Ahmed Shimul's question,&nbsp; Ali said that 87.70 percent of the target of revenue collection has been achieved till December 2023 of the fiscal year 2023-24.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“During this time, the revenue collection was Tk 1.65 lakh crore. From the stamp duty the collection was Tk 1626 crore. The deficit is Tk 23,227 crore,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the question of Awami League MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, the finance minister said that the Japanese government has given financial assistance of $3.38 million in 2023 for the development of human resources in Bangladesh, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to a question from ruling party MP Mamunur Rashid Kiran, the finance minister said that a new return form and a one-page return form has been introduced to simplify the income tax return process.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that TRP (Tax Return Preparer) programme will be introduced to simplify return filing process.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>