The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has compulsorily retired two of its senior officials following an internal investigation that revealed their involvement in unethical practices and unauthorized facilitation of foreign fund inflows. The action was taken against Abu Sayed Md. Mustak, former Commissioner of Tax Zone-5 and currently a member of the NBR, and Golam Kabir, former Additional Commissioner of the same zone, who was later promoted to Commissioner.

According to NBR sources, both officials were found responsible for enabling the transfer of Tk 721 crore from China into Bangladesh without any legitimate source of origin. The funds were reportedly presented as remittances through official channels, despite lacking valid documentation or verification. The case came to light as part of a broader inquiry into financial irregularities and abuse of power by senior tax officials.

The internal investigation revealed that the two officers had built a syndicate within their department, which allowed major corporations to receive unjustified tax benefits in exchange for undue influence and favoritism. One such instance involved facilitating large-scale tax exemptions for a prominent business entity known as Protikk Group. The investigation concluded that the officers’ actions directly compromised the integrity of the tax system and amounted to serious professional misconduct.

In light of these findings, the NBR issued two separate gazette notifications on Thursday, April 17, announcing the compulsory retirement of the two officials under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018. The decision was justified on the grounds of public interest, and it was noted that both officers had completed 25 years of government service, thereby meeting the criteria for early retirement.

Sources from the NBR emphasized that the decision was part of a broader effort to uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical standards within the revenue administration. The organization aims to set a precedent that misuse of authority and facilitation of unlawful financial activities will not be tolerated, regardless of rank or tenure.

Both Mustak and Kabir held top-tier positions within the tax cadre of the NBR, making the disciplinary measure a significant step in the agency’s ongoing campaign to combat corruption and restore public trust in the taxation system. Further investigations are expected to continue, potentially involving more individuals linked to the misconduct or who may have benefited from similar unethical practices.

The retirement of these officials is seen as a strong signal from the government and NBR leadership that no official is above accountability and that actions compromising public interest will be met with strict administrative measures.