100 NBR men under ACC scrutiny

More than 100 current and former National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials and employees are under the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) scrutiny over alleged bribery, tax evasion and illicit wealth, exposing serious concerns over integrity in revenue administration. With investigations into at least 16 officials nearing completion, accountability remains a critical test.

Legal actions may follow the submission of investigation reports, while cases filed against dozens of revenue officials in recent years remain pending trial.

Between 2021 and December 2024, the ACC filed cases against 95 NBR officials and employees. Charge sheets have been submitted to court in several cases, although proceedings against some accused have progressed slowly.

Last year, allegations of corruption against NBR officials multiplied amid a movement by revenue officials pressing for various demands. Between January and July, the ACC took actions against 20 individuals and filed cases against four of them. Investigations into at least 16 other officials were initiated during the year.

Those under investigation include NBR Member Lutful Azim; Member (Income Tax Policy) AKM Badiul Alam; Benapole Custom House Commissioner Md Kamruzzaman; Dhaka East Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate Commissioner Kazi Mohammad Ziauddin; Additional Commissioner of Taxes Sehela Siddika; Large Taxpayers Unit (VAT) Additional Commissioner Abdur Rashid Mia; Dhaka Tax Zone-8 Additional Commissioner Mirza Ashik Rana; former Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) Additional Director General Mohammad Alamgir Hossain; Joint Commissioner Tarek Hasan; BCS Tax Academy Joint Commissioner of Taxes Mohammad Morshed Uddin Khan; Dhaka Tax Zone-16 Deputy Commissioner of Taxes Monalisa Shahrin Susmita; VAT Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate Additional Commissioner Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar; Dhaka South Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate Additional Commissioner Sadhan Kumar Kundu; Tax Zone-16 Deputy Commissioner of Taxes Mohammad Shihabul Islam; Deputy Commissioner of Taxes Md Mamun Mia; and Tax Inspector Lokman Ahmed.

Other prominent figures facing corruption allegations include suspended NBR Member Motiur Rahman, whose involvement in the controversial goat purchase scandal drew widespread public criticism. In January last year, the ACC named him and his wife in a case. Former Commissioner Nurul Islam, Additional Commissioner Kazi Abu Mahmud Faisal and former Superintendent Rafiqul Islam have also faced ACC cases. Charge sheets have been filed against several accused, including Motiur Rahman.

Former NBR Assistant Director Badrun Nahar and former Customs Assistant Commissioner Mokhleshur Rahman have also drawn public attention over corruption allegations.

The wider list of accused in cases filed between January 2021 and December 31, 2024, includes former Dhaka Customs Valuation and Internal Audit Commissionerate Commissioner Mamunur Rahman; former Assistant Commissioners Monirul Haque Sarkar and Mokhlesur Rahman Khan (Sahan); former Kaptai Circle Customs Inspector Nizam Uddin; and revenue officials Mohammad Enamul Haque, Mizanur Rahman, Golam Kibria Hazari, Harun-or-Rashid, Abdus Samad, Zainal Abedin, Saifunnahar Joni, Habibul Islam and Sultan Ahmed.

According to the ACC sources, officials allegedly colluded with taxpayers and business owners to reduce legally payable taxes in exchange for bribes, depriving the government of substantial revenue. Some officials have also been accused of harassing business owners with false tax-evasion cases when they refused to pay bribes. Other allegations involve nepotism, irregularities and enabling evasion of customs duties, VAT and income tax in exchange for personal benefits.

ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Akhtarul Islam told the media, “The ACC received allegations that taxpayers were being enabled to evade taxes in exchange for substantial bribes, and that business owners and NBR officials were colluding to reduce government-mandated tax amounts for personal gain. Legal action has been taken following the verification of these allegations. As for the complaints still under investigation, the outcome will be determined by the Commission once the investigation reports are submitted.”