The Finance Adviser to the interim government, Salehuddin Ahmed, has clarified that the government has no involvement in the ongoing investigation initiated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against six senior officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
Speaking to reporters on Monday at the Secretariat after announcing a new budget framework for 72 state-owned and autonomous institutions, the adviser addressed concerns about the timing and motivation behind the ACC`s actions.
Responding to questions regarding whether the investigation was a continuation of past practices of using anti-corruption probes as political tools, Salehuddin stated unequivocally that the Finance Ministry does not direct the ACC’s work.
He noted that while previous government officials, such as governors, may have acted as political emissaries, the current administration was committed to maintaining independence and integrity in institutional processes.
Addressing concerns about the apparent link between the ACC probe and recent protests within the NBR, he acknowledged that people might question why the inquiry was launched at this specific moment.
However, he pointed out that disruptions caused by the movement—such as the shutdown of NBR services and port operations—had significantly harmed the business community.
"Every day, I received complaints from business leaders about stalled services, closed accounts, and financial losses. This situation was not acceptable," he said.
Salehuddin emphasized that institutions like the NBR and port authorities are not private entities but public institutions vital to the country`s economy.
Suspending their services, he argued, is against national interest. “Whether it is the NBR or a port, these are government properties. If someone unilaterally halts services, it harms public welfare,” he said.
Welcoming the end of the NBR strike, Salehuddin noted that the government is satisfied with the peaceful resolution and expects all stakeholders to now work toward logical and practical solutions.
Addressing the protesting officials directly, he urged them to perform their duties without bias or fear, saying, “Public service should be transparent and accountable. If someone deviates from that path, it’s natural they will be held accountable.”
The ACC recently initiated an investigation into six NBR officials accused of accumulating illegal wealth through bribery and facilitating tax evasion.
Those under probe include A.K.M. Badiul Alam, Member of the Income Tax Policy Division; Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar, Additional Director General of the Directorate of Audit, Intelligence & Investigation; Mirza Ashiq Rana, Additional Commissioner; Monalisa Shahreen Sushmita, Additional Commissioner; Sadhan Kumar Kundu, Additional Commissioner; and Mohammad Morshed Uddin Khan, Joint Commissioner of Taxes.
According to NBR sources, at least five of the officials under investigation have direct links to the recent protest movement. Notably, Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar is the president of the NBR Reform Unity Council, the group leading the demonstrations.
The timing of the investigation has therefore drawn scrutiny, although the Finance Adviser maintained that the probe is proceeding independently and without government interference.
