ACC launches probe against 2 more NBR commissioners, 3 other officials
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation against five more officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), including two commissioners.
The anti-graft agency made the disclosure in a press release today.
The officials under investigation are – Md Kamruzzaman, commissioner of Benapole Customs House; Kazi Mohammad Ziauddin, commissioner of Dhaka East Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate; Sehela Siddika, additional tax commissioner in the Income Tax Department; Md Mamun Miah, deputy tax commissioner; and Lokman Ahmed, tax inspector.
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Additional Tax Commissioner Sehela Siddika is also the secretary general of the NBR Reform Unity Council, which led a movement within the NBR.
The move comes just a day after the government sent four senior officials of the NBR on forced retirement.
An NBR official, seeking anonymity, told TBS, "The corruption investigations are being used as a tool to harass officials and staff involved in the movement."
According to the ACC's press release, corrupt members and officials have been enabling taxpayers to evade taxes and duties in exchange for large bribes. As a result, the government is being deprived of significant annual revenue.
In some cases, officials have reportedly filed false tax evasion cases against business owners when bribes were not paid, thereby harassing them.
The ACC also mentioned that many taxpayers either pay in advance or overpay taxes. As per the rules, any excess tax must be refunded after adjustment.
However, based on document analysis and complaints, it is alleged that getting a tax refund often requires paying an additional amount in bribes or "gifts."
The officials in charge of processing refunds are reportedly pocketing substantial amounts from these transactions.
In the past four days, the ACC launched investigations against 11 senior NBR officials, including members and commissioners.
Among them are two NBR members as well as NBR Reform Unity Council President Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar.
