Loan defaulters will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming elections, according to Finance Adviser Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, organized by the National Pension Authority to mark the inauguration of the EP Pension scheme, Dr. Ahmed emphasized the Election Commission’s responsibility to identify loan defaulters.
He noted challenges due to ongoing court stay orders, citing former official Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, who spent five years as a loan defaulter.
When asked about government measures to curb black money ahead of the elections, the adviser said the issue involves two aspects: source and process. While illicit sources of money were widespread in the past—spanning bank owners, industrialists, newspaper proprietors, and landlords—current mechanisms have largely curtailed these channels, introducing a system of checks and balances.
Dr. Ahmed also highlighted the link between economic development and political culture, stating that if politicians encourage cash-based influence in nominations or voting, the Ministry of Finance has limited ability to intervene.
