The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched fresh inquiries into five more officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), including commissioners, over allegations of corruption, reports bdnews24.com.
They are Kazi Muhammad Ziauddin, Dhaka East commissioner of customs, excise and VAT, Md Kamruzzaman, commissioner at Benapole Land Port, Mamun Mia, deputy tax commissioner, Sehela Siddiqua, additional tax commissioner, and Lokman Ahmed, tax inspector.
Akhtarul Islam, deputy director (public relations), disclosed the development on Thursday.
All five officials under the new inquiry were involved in last month's protest under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, which called for the removal of the agency's chairman. Sehela Siddiqua served as spokesperson for the council.
The NBR staffers suspended their week-long pen-down strike, sit-ins, and two-day "complete shutdown" on Sunday night, returning to work the following day.
The government took action on the second day of the shutdown, declaring NBR services "essential" and issuing stern warnings to protesting officers to resume duties.
Amid this, the ACC began inquiries against six protest leaders, while the government announced the formation of a five-member advisory committee to resolve the crisis.
Later in the day, a breakthrough came during talks between the finance advisor and leaders of several major business associations, who acted as mediators.
Following "positive assurances" given at the meeting, the business leaders convinced the NBR Reform Unity Council to withdraw the shutdown.
