NBR to check its chief's account info:Daily Star

Ghulam Hussain In an extraordinary move, the Central Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue yesterday sought details of all bank accounts held by its incumbent chairman, Md Ghulam Hussain. The CIC gave banks seven days to furnish information on Hussain's current, savings and foreign currency accounts, credit cards, savings certificates and any other investment instruments and schemes.
The NBR intelligence wing also sought detailed account information of Hussain's wife, Zakia Mansoor Hussain, who, according to the NBR website, teaches economics at a college. “I myself have given the approval to CIC to go ahead with the investigation for the sake of transparency,” Hussain told The Daily Star last night over telephone. On paper, CIC, which falls under the authority of NBR chairman, can seek account details of any person or institution for tax dodging investigation purposes. This is the first time though that the intelligence wing has sought wealth-related information of any NBR top brass. “This is also to show that I am not above the law -- I am taking the issue positively,” Hussain said. When asked what prompted him to sanction an inquiry into his bank details, Hussain blamed a vested party for landing him into a controversy Advertisement “There are enemies in every sphere of life. I won't be allowed to retire with dignity,” he said, without elaborating further. It was not immediately clear whether the letter has anything to do with Hussain's recent row with Finance Minister AMA Muhith over the transfer order of 27 income tax commissioners last month. The wholesale reshuffling did not go down well with Muhith. In the face of such strong reaction, the tax authority on October 30 halted the move, only to re-order the transfer of 14 of the 27 income tax commissioners four days later, upon a green light from Muhith. Hussain though is of the belief that the finance ministry is not behind the investigation. “The row between me and the ministry has already been sorted out -- they are not doing it,” Hussain said. Hussain joined the NBR on October 29, 2012. He served as the secretary of the commerce ministry and additional secretary of the home affairs ministry in the past. He is set to retire from the NBR in mid-January next year.