The state lost Tk75 crore in revenue after two sons of S Alam Group Chairman Mohammed Saiful Alam Masud used forged pay orders to whitewash undisclosed income, official records show.
The Internal Resources Division under the Finance Ministry reinstated a suspended National Board of Revenue (NBR) official on Tuesday with a minor penalty despite investigators proving his involvement, according to a gazette notification.
The reinstated officer, Joint Tax Commissioner AKM Shamsuzzaman, had been suspended for facilitating the scheme during his tenure at Chattogram Tax Zone–1 Inspection Range–4.
The notification said he misused authority by suspending Section 120 of the Income Tax Ordinance 1984, blocking legitimate taxes from reaching the state exchequer.
Investigators found that S Alam’s sons Ashraful Alam and Asadul Alam Mahir declared Tk500 crore in undisclosed income under a tax-amnesty scheme.
They were liable to pay Tk125 crore in taxes but deposited Tk50 crore, resulting in a Tk75 crore revenue shortfall, the probe report found.
Three senior NBR officials were suspended in October last year over the incident and the Anti-Corruption Commission began a separate inquiry later.
Between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, the then government allowed whitening undisclosed income at a 10 per cent tax rate.
Shamsuzzaman faced departmental charges under Rule 3(b) of the Government Employees Discipline and Appeal Rules 2018 for misconduct.
He submitted written explanations and attended a personal hearing on November 9, 2025, where allegations were deemed proven beyond doubt.
Yet, his punishment was limited to a two-grade salary reduction from Tk66,100 to Tk56,300 and withdrawal of his suspension through a 11 November 2025 order.
The decision sparked discontent among revenue officials who questioned the lenient penalty despite the established loss to the state.
“Multiple inquiry committees were formed, and punishment was given based on their recommendations following the law. There was no scope for personal influence,” said NBR Chairman and Internal Resources Division Secretary Abdur Rahman Khan while speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh.
“A minor penalty is not sufficient for a case involving Tk75 crore loss to the state. This reflects a deeper culture of impunity and weak accountability,” said Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman.
