Press Release
The Interim Government is Imposing Unprecedented VAT and Taxes, Establishing a New Economic Tyranny on the People.
The Prophet ﷺ said, «لَا يَدْخُلُ صَاحِبُ مَكْسٍ الْجَنَّةَ يَعْنِي الْعَشَّارَ» “One who wrongfully takes an extra tax (sahib maks) will not enter Paradise” (Musnad Ahmed)

The greater population of the country is being crushed by the rising prices of daily necessities, facing a health crisis day by day due to the lack of proper protein, and failing to meet educational and medical expenses. Ignoring this plight of the people, the interim government has imposed high VAT-taxes on hundreds of products and has choked the throats of the people. In addition, it has stopped the process of selling goods at subsidized prices by trucks through TCB for low-income people; (Truck sales closed, cards of 4.3 million families canceled: Prothom Alo, January 10, 2025). The reason for these anti-people decisions of the government is the policy given by the IMF regarding tax-GDP and subsidy withdrawal, which the government is committed to follow. However, the IMF is a neo-colonial institution of the United States, through which they establish control over the economies of various countries. You must have witnessed that when the country's business, trade and employment are stagnating due to the reserve and energy crisis, the government has decided to double corporate tax and advance income tax on raw material imports in the middle of the fiscal year, which is suicidal for the country's emerging electronics industry (Daily Jugantar, January 13, 2025).

When the people of all walks of life in the country are expressing concern over these anti-people decisions of the interim government, the nonsense press secretary of the Chief Advisor of the interim-government said, “This step has been taken to restore stability of the fragile economy left by the previous government.” Whereas, they have followed the same footsteps of the previous government by subsidizing the corruption of the banking sector by printing over 22,000 crore taka and indirectly taxing on the people. He also said, “IMF prescription is the most effective for macroeconomic stability in the world” (Sangbad, 12 January 2025). However, it is universally recognized that there is no example for any country’s economy turning around by following the advice of the IMF, rather these countries have become extremely dependent and poor economies. For example, Sudan was once called the “bread basket”, and following the advice of the IMF, Sudan has now become one of the most famine-stricken countries. The IMF takes away a country's economic sovereignty by trapping it in the net of its loan conditions, and it establishes the Colonialist State's control over that country's economy by implementing trade liberalization and privatization policies. Finally, they also influence the political decisions of that State. You know, the fallen Hasina government laundered $16 billion every year; now that the current government claims that this money laundering has stopped, why would they approach the IMF for a loan of only $4.7 billion? Why would the people accept the anti-people conditions of the IMF? Besides, when our workers from aboard send about $20 billion foreign remittance annually, why would we need this insignificant loan from a foreign organization? The people think that just as the fallen dictator Hasina government established a rule of tyranny in the country, similarly this current interim-government is walking on the path of establishing IMF dominance on our economy, and establishing an economic tyranny over the people. Therefore, the people must unite to resist this evil agenda of the government. Allah (swt) says,

[إِن يَثْقَفُوكُمْ يَكُونُوا لَكُمْ أَعْدَاء وَيَبْسُطُوا إِلَيْكُمْ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَأَلْسِنَتَهُم بِالسُّوءِ وَوَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ]

“If they gain dominance over you, they would be [i.e., behave] to you as enemies and extend against you their hand and their tongues with evil, and they wish you would disbelieve” [Surah Al-Mumtahinah: 02].

O People, for the economic stability of the country, it is necessary to achieve self-reliance. Therefore, the IMF's interference in the country's economy must be stopped and the capitalist ruling class, the agents of the colonialists, must also be rejected. Country's economy must come out of its hostage situation to the foreign multinational companies through trade liberalization and free market economy, and a sovereign and self-reliant economy must be established by establishing domestic industries. Capitalist economic policies must be rejected and Islamic economy must be implemented. As you know, Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Bangladesh, has previously presented the outline of a self-reliant economy to the nation through which a leading economy will be established.

O People, under the leadership of Hizb ut Tahrir the upcoming Khilafah (Caliphate) State established on the method of the Prophethood, is fully prepared to implement the Islamic economic model, through which the current oppression will end. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,

«ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكاً جَبْرِيَّةً فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةً عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ» “

...then the rule of tyranny will end; then there will be Khilafah on the method of prophethood” (Hadith: Musnad Ahmad).

Therefore, despite the fall of the tyrant Hasina, the system of tyranny still exists. To get rid of this neo-colonialism, you have to be the pioneers in advancing the project of the Khilafah state. Just as the military officers took a stand on your behalf and expelled Hasina in the face of your united demands. If you unite in the demand for the establishment of the Khilafah and raise your demands, our military forces will also take a stand on your behalf, because they are also the brave children of the Muslim Ummah and love Islam. Therefore, our call on behalf of Hizb ut Tahrir is that you demand from the military officers to provide nussrah (material power) to Hizb ut Tahrir in establishing the Khilafah.

[بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنْ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلاَ يَضِلُّ وَلاَ يَشْقَى]

“And if there should come to you guidance from Me - then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]” [Surah Taha: 123].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Bangladesh