Does NBR chief consider him an emperor, questions HC

The High Court on Sunday blasted the National Board of Revenue chairman for not implementing its order over submitting a report before the court about the realisation of revenue from the transactions of E-Orange.

“He [NBR chairman] is not following our directives. But why? Does he consider himself an emperor? Ask him to submit the compliance report by March 27. Otherwise, we will order him to appear in person before this court,” an HC bench told Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin during the hearing on a pending rule on this issue.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat came up with the remarks during a hearing in this regard. The court also set March 27 for the next hearing.

Earlier, the High Court in an order directed the home secretary, NBR chairman and the defendants to inform the court about revenue collection against e-Orange transactions and the steps of bringing back E-Orange ‘patron’ Banani Police Station’ sacked Inspector (Investigation) Sheikh Sohel Rana.

Lawyer M Abdul Qayyum took part in the hearing on behalf of writ petitioners before the court; Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state while lawyer Shamim Khaled Ahmed appeared for BFIU.

During the hearing, AKM Amin Uddin said the investigation of the case over the incident is going on. The documents of the Ministry of Home Affairs were received last Thursday, as the affidavit was not filed. It can be submitted next week.

But it has been reported in the newspaper that Sohel Rana has escaped from the Indian jail after he came out on bail. Trying to get updated information from India and the reports of the Home Ministry and the IGP are similar, he said

M Abdul Qayyum said that the court can grant a time petition if it wants time to comply with the order but the NBR Chairman and NBR did not submit the report. The prosecution’s affidavit shows that Interpol sought certain information for issuing an Interpol Red Notice against Sheikh Sohel Rana.

Then, the deputy attorney general said, “Red notice of Interpol has been issued against Sheikh Sohel Rana, whose number is also mentioned but I have not got the report of NBR.

At that time, the HC bench said, ‘Did you inform the NBR?’ Answering yes, the deputy attorney general said repeated requests have been made. Then, the court said, “Two reports including NBR should be submitted together.”

At one point, the court said, who is the chairman of the NBR? Then lawyer M Abdul Qayyum said, Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem.

Addressing the deputy attorney general, the court said, ‘We have given the last chance, we will order him to appear in person before this court if he doesn’t submit the report this time too. If Red Notice has not been issued, it will look at the measures taken to issue it or what action has been taken. Ask the NBR chairman to provide the information requested. Submit these two reports together.”

On April 3, 2021, some 547 customers filed a writ petition seeking the return of Tk77.46 crore and directives for investigations into the allegation of money laundering against the company.