Three income tax officers, including the additional tax commissioner, have been suspended on charges of bribery and corruption.
A separate notification was issued dismissing them on Thursday (October 17). Secretary of Internal Resources and NBR Chairman signed the notification.
The officers are – Chittagong Tax Appellate Zone Additional Tax Commissioner Saiful Alam. Earlier he was Joint Tax Commissioner of Tax Zone-1, Chittagong. Tax Zone-14, Dhaka Joint Tax Commissioner AKM Shamsuzzaman. Earlier he was working as Joint Tax Commissioner of Tax Zone-1, Chittagong. Tax Region-2, Chittagong Assistant Tax Commissioner Md. Aminul Islam. Earlier he was working as Additional Assistant Commissioner of Taxes (EACT) of Tax Zone-1, Chittagong.
These three officials are accused of accepting bribes from taxpayers. All the three officers are alleged to have taken bribe while working in Chittagong.
On the same complaint on September 19, Tax Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam Akand was suspended. He was working as a member of Chittagong Tax Appellate Tribunal, Double Bench. 28 days after the dismissal of the Tax Commissioner, three former officials of Tax Zone-1, Chittagong were dismissed.
According to the three notices, the temporary suspension from government service was done in accordance with section 39(1) of the Public Service Act, 2018. During the period of temporary suspension they will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules.
It should be noted that Section 39(1) says about suspension, 'When departmental proceedings are proposed or instituted against an employee, the Government or the appointing authority shall consider the extent and nature of the complaint, the necessity of restraining the accused employee from his duties, the effect of the investigation. He can be suspended considering the danger, etc.'
According to NBR sources, these three officials were accused of accepting bribes. Three officials have been suspended after finding the preliminary facts.
On the other hand, Md. Shafiqul Islam Akand was transferred from Chittagong Tax Appeal to Tax Zone-7, Dhaka on September 18. He was sacked on September 19, a day after the transfer order was issued. On September 2, the officer was accused of taking bribe in his office.
According to several sources of NBR, while he was a member of Chittagong Tax Appeals, a taxpayer accused him of asking for a bribe in the office of the Chief Advisor. NBR was directed to look into the matter. He was dismissed as the prima facie case was confirmed. He was fired a day after being transferred to the new tax zone. Earlier he was transferred from Rajshahi to Khulna due to harassment of taxpayers. Finally he was transferred to Chittagong Appeal.
