Tax commissioner suspended following bribery allegations

Shafiqul Islam Akand, a member of the Chittagong Tax Appellate Tribunal (Double Bench) and a BCS 13th batch income tax cadre officer, has been suspended temporarily from his duties. 

This action comes just a day after he was transferred to the position of Tax Commissioner of Tax Zone-7, Dhaka, following allegations of bribery.

According to an official notification issued by the Secretary of the Internal Resources Department, Abdur Rahman Khan, the suspension of Shafiqul Islam Akand is effective on 19 September under Section 39 of the Public Service Act, 2018. The suspension follows a complaint from a taxpayer who accused Shafiqul Islam Akand of soliciting a bribe during a meeting in his office on 2 September.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) investigation found sufficient evidence to support the allegation, leading to his temporary suspension. Although he will be entitled to severance pay as per the suspension rules, the case marks a significant action against corruption within the government service.

Shafiqul Islam Akand had been transferred to his new role as Tax Commissioner just a day before his suspension.