152 crore interest waiver, ACC case against four mobile companies

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against Wahida Rahman Chowdhury, the former commissioner of the National Board of Revenue (NBR)'s Large Tax Payer Unit (MUSC) on the charge of waiving Tk 152 crore VAT interest of four mobile phone companies.

Tuesday (June 11) Assistant Director of the ACC. Shah Alam Sheikh filed the case in Dhaka-1 office of the commission as plaintiff.

ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin gave this information in a press conference at the agency's head office in Segunbagicha in the capital.

He said that the former commissioner of Musak Wahida Rahman misused the power and gave this facility to four mobile operators in a single decision. This has caused financial loss to the government.

He also said that the former commissioner has waived Tk 152 crore 89 thousand 390 unpaid interest of Grameenphone Limited, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel in a single executive decision.

When asked whether the mobile companies took this advantage by bribing the former commissioner or not, Khorsheda Yasmeen said that these issues will come out in the investigation.

It is known from the statement of the case, regarding the collection of VAT applicable on the rent of premises and premises, as VAT is legally applicable on the premises and premises, the institution authorities agreed to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) meeting regarding the payment of the claimed VAT and in due course 189 crore 74 lakhs 15 thousand 430 The money is paid. Due to non-payment of this revenue within the prescribed tax period, the amount of interest payable at the rate applicable under the Musak Act is Tk 152 crore 89 lakh 390. According to Section 37(3) of the Value Added Tax Act, 1991, the then Commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury ordered to calculate the interest very quickly when the documents were presented for interest collection.

Commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury changed the decision to collect interest for dishonest purpose in a single executive order through abuse of power and criminal breach of trust by showing some arguments. 152 crore interest was legally recoverable. But he issued a single executive decision not to levy this interest. As a result, it appears that the collection of 152 crore 89 thousand 390 taka of the government has been obstructed.

Accused Wahida Rahman Chowdhury has caused financial loss to the government by waiving unpaid interest of Tk 152 crore 89 lakh 390 on 16 documents in a single executive decision outside the law. Therefore, a case has been filed against him under Section 218/409 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.