NBR’s Belal made OSD two days after ACC files case

Amid criticism and controversy, the National Board of Revenue's (NBR) Mohammad Belal Hossain Chowdhury has been made an officer on special duty (OSD).

The finance ministry issued a circular today (9 October) in this regard.

Just a day earlier, he was appointed as the president of the Customs, Excise and Vat Appellate Tribunal.

Although the post is considered less significant within the NBR hierarchy, the move drew questions as Belal is facing a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). 

ACC filed a case against him on charges of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income and concealing asset information.

Before his reassignment, Belal served as commissioner of the Custom House Benapole and director general of the Duty Exemption and Drawback Office of the NBR.

On 7 October, ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain said the commission had identified undeclared assets worth Tk4.6 crore and assets worth Tk4.97 crore acquired beyond known sources of income under Belal's name.

An ACC investigation found that Belal had declared assets worth Tk8.83 crore in his wealth statement, while investigators identified assets totalling Tk13.43 crore — indicating that Tk4.60 crore had been concealed.

The probe also revealed evidence of assets valued at Tk4.97 crore that were allegedly acquired beyond known sources of income.

Belal also came under discussion recently for travelling to Australia, despite having official permission only to attend a training programme in Indonesia under a government order. The NBR subsequently sought an explanation from him regarding the matter.