The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has asked the banks and the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) to submit information on bank accounts and beneficiary owners (BO) accounts of Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and his wife.
The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of NBR has asked the authorities concerned to furnish necessary information regarding bank and BO accounts belonging to Dr Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and his wife Dr Irina Bhattacharya within seven working days.
The CIC sent letters, dated January 4 last, in this regard to the commercial banks and the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of CDBL.
CIC assistant director Md Nasir Uddin asked the commercial banks to submit the details of their term deposits, including fixed deposit receipt, short-term deposit and other accounts, any type of savings deposit, current account, loan account, foreign currency account, credit card, saving certificates or other types of savings instruments, investment scheme or deposit scheme or other types of accounts.
Talking to the FE, Dr Bhattacharya, an economist and public policy analyst, said the NBR could do what it is legally mandated to do.
"However, this is not a new experience for me. In 2003-04, during the BNP regime, I faced similar harassment because of my commentaries on the state of the economy," he added.
In the letter, the CIC has sought updated information on his bank accounts since July 1, 2008. However, the banks have to provide information of his previous bank accounts that are closed now.
The CIC gave a format to the banks for providing information about the accounts, if there is any.
For loan accounts, it sought information on financial year (FY), amount of total loan withdrawn, amount of loan re-payment except interest and charges, and balance on June 30 of every FY.
For other accounts except loan accounts, the banks have to furnish name of FY, amount of total deposit in that year, amount of interest credited, amount of tax at source and balance on June 30 of every FY.
From CDBL, CIC sought information on BO accounts of Dr Bhattachariya and his wife in single or joint name since July 1, 2008.
In case of failure in furnishing the information, the tax authority can impose Tk 25,000 penalty at a time and Tk 500 for each of the next day, according to the Income Tax Ordinance 1984.
On January 3, CPD said tax revenue collection may face a severe shortfall in the current FY.
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