ACC Launches Inquiry Into NBR Member's Alleged Illegal Assets

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into the substantial illegal assets allegedly amassed by Md. Matiur Rahman, a member of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), following the controversy surrounding the procurement of a goat worth 1.2 million taka. According to ACC sources, four separate teams have been formed over the past 18 years to investigate these allegations. However, mysteriously, each investigation was prematurely concluded.

Reports indicate that the first investigation team was formed around the year 2000. Matiur Rahman served as the Assistant Commissioner of Benapole Port Customs in 1996 and 1997, during which time he faced serious allegations of rampant bribery and corruption. The ACC initially suspended the investigation for an extended period and eventually concluded the inquiry in 2004 without further action.

Subsequently, allegations emerged that Rahman accumulated assets worth several thousand crores of taka, both domestically and internationally, under various names. Similar investigations were initiated in 2008, 2013, and 2021, all of which were prematurely concluded, and Rahman was exonerated each time.

From his position as Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Matiur Rahman has risen to become a member of the NBR. Allegations against him include being a key player among stock market regulators, with industry insiders referring to him as a "gambler." It is believed that his close business ties with several ACC officials have repeatedly allowed him to evade accountability.

On June 4, ACC Director General Md. Mokammel Haque, the convener of the ACC's evaluation committee, presented a meeting with allegations of illicit asset accumulation and money laundering against NBR member Md. Matiur Rahman. The meeting revealed that previous investigations into similar allegations had been concluded four times.

After detailed discussions, the commission agreed to form a team for a public inquiry into the allegations against Matiur Rahman. Additionally, it was decided to locate and review the reports and documents from the previous four investigations. If the documents could not be found, disciplinary action would be taken against the responsible officers and employees for negligence of duty.