NBR to go slow on suspicious bank account investigation

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Doulot Akter Mala
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to relax the pace of its investigation into suspicious bank accounts as a step towards restoring confidence of the business community.
"All government offices are bound to follow a uniform policy as per government directives and the NBR on its part will relax the ongoing drive," the NBR chairman Badiur Rahman said Monday.
On September 9, the chief adviser in his speech said the National Task Force on anti-corruption would not publish any new list of suspected corrupt persons after the current month.
He said different government agencies, however, would carry on their normal anti-corruption drives in accordance with the rules and regulations concerned.
The NBR so far approved the filing of 37 cases against large tax evaders, but the number will gradually decline, the NBR chairman said.
The board has, in the meantime, frozen a number of bank accounts and seized saving certificates suspecting incidents of huge tax evasion.
In August this year, the board had frozen the bank accounts of former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia and that of their family members.
The NBR chief expressed his satisfaction over the ongoing crack down saying" I think our mission to send a message to the people has been successful and it will continue to be an example for long time."
The caretaker government started an all-out anti corruption drive against the high-profile corruption suspects, including former lawmakers, business tycoons and bureaucrats after assuming office in January this year.
A number of individuals returned Tk 8.20 billion (820 crore) earned through corrupt and dishonest means to the government exchequer following its coordinated efforts.