The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered evidence of a huge tax evasion scheme worth around Tk 40 crore involving two business entities under the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC).
The probe revealed that the irregularities were reportedly caused by deliberate tampering of municipal tax documents.
ACC Assistant Director Sayed Alam confirmed that initial findings revealed that digits in tax records had been erased to reduce the reported amounts.
“Preliminary findings show that tax documents were tampered with. The figure ‘2’ was erased from the tax amounts of the two entities, resulting in understated revenue,” Sayed Alam said. “Evidence also points to collusion between the owners of these organisations. We will seek the opinion of signature experts and conduct a full investigation, including examination of bank records.”
According to the ACC investigation, Ishak Brothers’ holding had a prescribed municipal tax of Tk 26.38 crore, which the Appeal Review Board later reduced to around Tk 6 crore. Similarly, Incontrade Depot’s tax of Tk 25.67 crore was recorded as Tk 5.67 crore, both cases involving the erasure of the digit “2.”
The manipulations led to a combined revenue loss of nearly Tk 40 crore.
An ACC team visited the CCC headquarters at Tigerpass on Thursday afternoon to examine relevant documents and hold discussions with officials.
CCC Secretary Mohammad Ashraful Amin acknowledged the irregularities, stating that the malpractice occurred during the 2017–18 financial year.
“Instead of Tk 26 crore and Tk 25 crore, amounts of Tk 6 crore and Tk 5 crore were reported respectively,” he said. “One tax inspector (TI) and two deputy tax inspectors (DTIs) have been temporarily suspended, and departmental actions have been taken.”
Ashraful Amin added that the involved accounts assistants have been made officers on special duty (OSD) and issued show-cause notices with a 10-day deadline. One officer, who has since retired, has had all benefits withheld pending further action.
The CCC Secretary further noted that an investigation committee was formed in 2023, and following its report, the mayor took swift action.
“The previous decision of the review board has been revoked, and the process to recover the actual dues Tk 26 crore and Tk 25 crore is now underway,” the secretary confirmed.
