Accounts of 39 graft accused to stay shut; NBR seeks legal opinion for decision
Rejaul Karim Byron
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to conditionally reopen 270 bank accounts that were frozen during the immediate past emergency regime, as democracy has been restored.
NBR sources said they started working towards that end yesterday. The account holders concerned have been contacting NBR, and the revenue collecting authority also has been sending notices to them. During the immediate past caretaker regime, NBR froze 335 accounts on charges of tax evasion, 26 of which were later reopened at different times.
Cases were filed against 39 account holders, verdicts in many of which were also delivered.
The frozen account holders, against whom the cases were filed, include former ministers Mirza Abbas, Shajahan Siraj and members of his family, former chief whip also Awami League leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah, former state minister Ziaul Haque Zia and his family members, and former BNP lawmakers Ali Asgar Lobi, Mosaddek Ali Falu, and Salauddin Ahmed (Dour Salahuddin) and his family members.
Cases were also filed against former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s nephew Shahrin Islam Tuhin, former minister Sajeda Chowdhury’s son Sadat Akbar Chowdhury, and former Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman.
NBR sources said it is seeking opinion of the law ministry about what to do regarding the 39 accounts.
From the remaining 270 accounts, tax evading ones will be reopened after taxes for the evaded numbers of years and a 10 percent fine on only two years’ tax are deducted from the accounts.
The sources said taxes and fines for many of the accounts were already assessed, while for the remaining ones the assessment will be done this week.
After the assessment, the accountholders must appeal to NBR for reopening of the accounts after getting notices.
After the appeals are filed, the accounts will be reopened on payment of the due taxes and fines.
The accounts of those who will be found to have no taxable income, will be reopened without payment of any tax or fine.
The sources said many of the account holders already appealed.
The frozen account of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was reopened before the December 29, 2008 national election, on the basis of an appeal. There was no case against her in relation to the account.
The account of Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia has not been reopened yet, as she has yet to appeal. She also has no case against her in relation to the account.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
