Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) would look into the abnormal or excessive increase in the wealth of individuals or politicians who have submitted their wealth statements to the Election Commission ahead of the national election. “Of course, they’ve (NBR) intelligence unit which will look into it and also by the ACC (Anti Corruption Commission),” he told reporters replying to their queries after submitting his income tax return through online at his secretariat office. Asked whether the NBR has the jurisdiction to look into the abnormal increase in wealth, Muhith said, “Of course they (NBR) would also look into it.” In this connection, he said the NBR is now receiving the income tax returns for the last year, but the individuals who have submitted their wealth statements and the affidavits before the Election Commission are mostly up to July-November period of this fiscal year. The Finance Minister said that the intelligence unit of NBR, apart from the ACC, would look into the matter if there is any abnormal increase in wealth in the last four to five months. Muhith said it was his assumption that the authorities concerned have already started looking into this matter. Mentioning that the NBR usually audits of 5 percent of the total submitted returns, he said, adding, “They’ll have to…the intelligence unit will have to look into it.” Asked whether he would give directives to the NBR to this end as the Finance Minister, he said, “Of course, but, I won’t tell you anything. I’ll give them instructions separately.” Replying to another query, the Finance Minister said the ministers and MPs also submit their tax statements before the Prime Minister, but those are not published as nobody has asked in the last five years for making those public. “Tax return is a private and secret document unless it is a matter of the court.” About the much-talked-about submitted affidavits by Awami League Ministers, MPs and leaders before the Election Commission, he said many in the affidavits have showed that their trade and commerce have increased due to development of the country. “It’s of course true and the trade and commerce has increased in the country due to the timely efforts of the present government.” Asked why the AL leaders have shown their unwillingness to make their wealth statements public, Muhith said, “I don’t know because there’s no similarity with this with my culture. I submit my tax return openly every year although the NBR officials suggest that it is not proper to make tax returns public.” He, however, said it was his personal opinion that the wealth statements of the public representatives should be made public. “Being a public representative, my account and life should be an open book.” Noting that power always has some advantages even anyone looks at history from the beginning of life, the Finance Minister said, “So, It’s natural. If you have a position in public service then the opportunity comes …..” Asked whether the government would probe the abnormal surge of wealth by the individuals, including Ministers and MPs, he said that the ACC is completely independent and there has been demonstration of that at times also. He, however, admitted that the wings of the ACC have been crippled to some extent in submission of filing a chargesheet against any government official, but not about investigation. “I myself along with some others have opposed this provision ….and my goal would be as long as I’ll remain as an MP….” – UNB
