Jannatul Ferdous, Assistant Commissioner of Tax (ACT), has been temporarily suspended for allegedly handing over income tax documents in exchange for a bribe of Tk 3.8 million.
The suspension order was issued on Monday. Internal Resources Division (IRD) Secretary and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan singed the order.
According to the suspension order, Jannatul Ferdous, an Assistant Commissioner of Tax Zone-5 in Dhaka, transferred most of the previous tax records—including old income tax returns, order sheets, assessment orders, appeal and tribunal decisions, and other documents—to the nominated representative (an income tax lawyer) of taxpayer Salah Uddin Ahmed of Circle-93, in exchange for Tk 3.8 million.
As a result, departmental proceedings have been initiated against her, the suspension order reads.
The order further states that, under Rule 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, Jannatul Ferdous has been appointed as Special Officer on Duty (OSD) at the NBR and has been temporarily suspended from service.
During her suspension period, she will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per the rules. The order is effective immediately, it said.
Earlier on August 21, a deputy tax commissioner named Lincon Roy of the same tax zone was temporarily suspended for allegedly assisting in evading approximately Tk 1.46 billion in revenue by making income tax documents disappear.
In connection with the same incident, the government had also sent two other officials—Abu Sayeed Md. Mustaq, then Commissioner of Tax Zone-5, Dhaka, and Commissioner Md. Golam Kabir—into forced retirement.
Additionally, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) granted approval to file cases against all three tax officials.
