Indictment hearing against ex-NBR official Matiur ends, order on Jul 21

A Dhaka court on Sunday concluded the hearing on charge framing in a graft case against former National Board of Revenue (NBR) official Matiur Rahman, who drew widespread attention over the so-called "goat scandal," and set July 21 to pass its order.

Judge BM Tarikul Kabir of the Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's Court fixed the date after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.

Matiur, currently in jail, was produced before the court. Defence lawyers Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan and Md. Borhan Uddin sought his discharge, while Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam argued in favour of framing charges.

The ACC filed the case on December 15, 2024, accusing Matiur of amassing illegal wealth and concealing asset information. According to the case, he acquired assets worth about Tk 52.88 million beyond his known sources of income and concealed information on assets worth Tk 12.77 million.

Following the investigation, the ACC approved the chargesheet on February 3, alleging that Matiur concealed asset information worth Tk 12.43 million by submitting false declarations and accumulated illicit assets worth about Tk 54.10 million through abuse of office, bribery and corruption.

He has been charged under Sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, along with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. Matiur was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police on January 14, 2025, and has remained in custody since then.