The state anti-graft watchdog on Tuesday lodged a case against former tax commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury for allegedly providing illicit benefits of Tk 1.53 billion to four mobile operators.
The telecom companies are Grameenphone Ltd, Robi Axiata Ltd, Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd and Airtel Bangladesh, according to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officials.
ACC secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen at a press briefing said the ex-commissioner (LTU/VAT) was sued for causing huge financial losses to the government through abusing her power.
The National Board of revenue (NBR) official illegally and dishonestly waived unpaid interest amounting to Tk 1.53 billion in 16 documents through unilateral executive decisions, she added.
ACC assistant director Md Shah Alam Sheikh filed the case against Wahida (60) with the Integrated District Office, Dhaka-01.
According to the case document, the 16 documents primarily concern the collection of VAT applicable to the rental of space and premises.
Since VAT is legally applicable to space and premises, the companies concerned agreed to pay the claimed VAT in an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) meeting and timely paid over Tk 1.89 billion.
As this revenue was not paid within the due period, the applicable interest according to the VAT law amounted to Tk 1.53 billion.
When the documents were presented for the collection of interest in accordance with section 39(3) of the Value Added Tax Act 1991, the then commissioner, Wahida, promptly ordered the calculation of interest.
Of this amount, a benefit of Tk 586.4-million was given illegally to GP, Tk 578.8 million to Banglalink, Tk 149.4 million to Robi and Tk 205.3 million to Airtel.
Three to five months later, Ms Wahida, citing some arguments, abused her power in a criminal breach of trust by unilaterally changing the decision to collect interest with dishonest intent.
The amount of Tk 1.53 billion was legally recoverable, and the unilateral executive decision not to collect this interest was inappropriate.
As a result, it appears that the government's collection of Tk 1.53 billion was obstructed, reads the case docket.
This power abuse and breach of trust caused financial loss to the government and constituted a punishable offence under sections 218/409 of the Penal Code 1860 and section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act 1947.
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