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Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has cautiously welcomed the government's move to exclude provisions for legalizing "black money" from the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that this decision sends a positive message aligned with the government's anti-corruption electoral commitments. However, he cautioned that such provisions have often reappeared through Finance Bills and urged the government to cease this practice. TIB also linked the proposed salary increase for government employees, justified after 11 years, to mandatory asset disclosure. This condition, they argue, is crucial for ensuring accountability and corruption-free service delivery. The organization emphasized the need for effective implementation of the budget speech's commitment to enhance tax administration efficiency, transparency, and accountability. TIB stressed that honest taxpayers should face a harassment-free environment and called for appropriate accountability mechanisms for relevant authorities. Furthermore, TIB expressed disappointment over the lack of a clear roadmap for good governance in budget implementation, urging the government to address this in the final budget. They also called for stronger measures against corruption in revenue administration, noting that technology-based monitoring alone is insufficient.

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The decision not to include the unconstitutional, discriminatory, and corruption-enabling provision for legalizing black money in the proposed budget sends an important message in support of the government’s anti-corruption electoral commitment.