NBR asks banks to freeze, search Jalil's accounts

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Doulot Akter Mala
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Wednesday asked commercial banks to freeze and search bank accounts of Awami League leader Abdul Jalil and other members of his family.
Abdul Jalil, the jailed AL-general secretary, was arrested on May 28 under section 16(2) of the Emergency Power Rules.
The central intelligence cell (CIC) of the NBR Wednesday sent letters to all banks seeking necessary information on the accounts by ten days.
Besides, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) recently also filed cases against Jalil for concealing information in wealth statements and amassing assets beyond his known sources of income.
In the current month, the NBR also sought information on bank accounts of 86 individuals including ex-health minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, AL presidium member Begum Sajeda Chowdhury, ex-state minister for expatriates' welfare Kamrul Islam and members of their families.
Of the 86 persons, the CIC has asked the banks to freeze the accounts of two for suspected tax evasion.
The board has frozen around 131 accounts and sought information about another 496 accounts on suspicion of tax evasion.
Sources said the board has already revived some accounts after scrutiny and assessment of tax.
They said it is a continuous campaign against tax evaders and to look for suspected bank accounts to find any mismatch between wealth and income tax.
An individual could withdraw Tk 50,000 per month from his/her frozen bank account.
NBR sources said if anybody applies to withdraw more cash from the frozen accounts for valid reason, the board might consider it on a case-to-case basis.