The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested immigration authorities to prevent former Customs Commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury from leaving the country.
This information was obtained from a letter signed by Md Shah Alam Sheikh, assistant director of the ACC's Integrated District Office Dhaka-1, on Thursday (13 June).
The ACC has filed a case against Customs Commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury for causing financial loss to the government by abusing her power and illegally waiving unpaid interest of Tk1,528,939,390 for four mobile companies in 16 files through a unilateral executive decision.
The case statement mentions that as VAT was applicable on the rent of locations and establishments of four mobile companies, they agreed to pay Tk18,974,150,000 in due time through alternative dispute resolution.
However, as they did not pay the amount within the stipulated tax period, the interest accrued to Tk1,528,939,390 as per the VAT law. Commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury ordered the calculation of the interest owed to the government promptly.
The interest owed includes Tk586,488,697 from Grameenphone, Tk578,853,051 from Banglalink, Tk149,416,666 from Robi, and Tk205,330,952 from Airtel.
Subsequently, Wahida Rahman misused her power and waived the interest 3 to 5 months later through a different order, reads the case statement.
