In a decisive move against tax evasion, the Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit (ITIIU) has launched an extensive probe into 150 high-profile individuals, including government engineers, judges, and passport officers, who are suspected of concealing income and assets to avoid paying taxes. The crackdown reflects the government’s intensified efforts over recent years to tackle tax evasion and improve revenue collection by holding influential public officials accountable. A Major Investigation Underway: The ITIIU Commissioner, Mohammad Abdur Rakib, confirmed to The Business Standard (TBS) that the investigation has already begun. “We have started scrutinizing the tax files of about 150 individuals, encompassing engineers, judges, and passport office officials from various government bodies. Our initial findings suggest evidence of tax evasion in nearly all cases,” he said.
Remarkably, six of those under investigation have already confessed to evading taxes and settled dues amounting to at least Tk 1 crore each, signaling the seriousness of the probe. The group under investigation includes approximately 100 government engineers working in departments such as the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Roads and Highways Department, Public Health Engineering Department, city corporations, Power Development Board, and Education Engineering Department. Alongside these engineers, 25 judges, 10 immigration and passport officers, and officials from WASA (Water Supply and Sewerage Authority), the Registration Department, and other agencies  are also being investigated. Origins of the Investigation: According to internal sources from the Income Tax Intelligence Department, the investigation was triggered by confidential intelligence reports that pointed to undeclared income and inconsistencies in asset declarations among officials holding influential positions. Based on this information, the ITIIU began a comprehensive audit of tax files belonging to these individuals.
During the probe, investigators uncovered evidence of significant undeclared income, mismatches in declared versus actual assets, and possession of illegal or unaccounted assets in many of the files examined.
Two notable cases illustrate the depth of the issue: an official from Sylhet City Corporation and an executive engineer from LGED were found to have undeclared assets worth about Tk 10 crore each. One of these officials has already admitted to evading taxes worth Tk 1 crore and has paid the tax.
Scope and Scale of the Investigation: The Income Tax Intelligence officials disclosed that initial findings point toward widespread tax evasion among the 150 individuals under scrutiny. While six officials have voluntarily come clean and paid back taxes, investigations into the remainder are ongoing.
Moreover, tax authorities suggest that this probe may reveal not just isolated tax evasion but potentially deeper systemic abuses of power, conflicts of interest, and immoral financial practices by some of the country’s most influential officials.
In the last six months alone, the ITIIU has reviewed the tax files of around 300 individuals and organizations, uncovering tax evasion amounting to roughly Tk 2,000 crore. To date, Tk 118 crore has been recovered, reflecting the government’s firm resolve to bring tax defaulters - regardless of their status - to account.
Investigative Process and Cooperation from Various Agencies: Investigators are currently examining both declared and undeclared immovable and movable assets of the 150 individuals. To trace the source of hidden income and illegal wealth, the Income Tax Intelligence Unit has reached out to numerous banks and financial institutions, real estate developers, the Bangladesh Real Estate and Housing Association (REHAB), Land Offices, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), and several other government and private bodies.
Emerging Details from the Investigation: A senior official of the ITIIU, speaking anonymously, revealed some details about those who have confessed and settled their dues.One such individual is the chief engineer of Sylhet City Corporation, who admitted to hiding approximately Tk 1 crore in tax, covering undeclared income from both himself and his wife. After his confession, he paid the tax due.
When The Business Standard contacted the engineer, he denied having any illegal assets or undeclared income beyond his tax filings. The ITIIU official responded, “If there was no tax evasion, why did he pay the money?”
Another significant case involves an executive engineer of Sylhet LGED, who previously served as an executive engineer in Faridpur during the Awami League government when Engineer Mosharraf Hossain was the Local Government Minister, and later in Comilla under Minister Tajul Islam.
The ITIIU found over 80 Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) in the names of the engineer, his wife, and daughter spread across various banks. Notably, the engineer’s wife reportedly laundered Tk 1.5 crore of black money during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, claiming income from a fabricated fish farm.
The investigation uncovered evidence that the engineer evaded taxes exceeding Tk 3 crore. Following these revelations, the Income Tax Intelligence Unit froze all bank accounts held by the engineer and his family.
When approached for comment, the LGED engineer denied any wrongdoing or tax evasion and asserted, “There is no problem with my tax file.” However, he did acknowledge that his bank accounts are frozen and that the Income Tax Intelligence Office is currently assessing his tax records.
Sources revealed that the engineer’s legal representatives are actively discussing the case with the ITIIU officials in Agargaon, Dhaka, with further meetings scheduled.
Judges Under Investigation: The investigation also extends to the judiciary, with 25 judges’ tax files currently under review. Of these, 18 judges were sent on compulsory retirement on July 10 - including 15 district judges, two additional district judges, and one joint district judge.
These developments have raised eyebrows and prompted debate about accountability and integrity within the judicial system.
Previous Operations and Continuing Efforts: This current operation follows previous crackdowns where the Income Tax Intelligence Unit arrested more than 300 people suspected of tax evasion and financial misconduct. The ongoing investigations and enforcement actions demonstrate the government’s sustained commitment to rooting out corruption and tax fraud, particularly among those entrusted with public responsibilities.
Broader Implications of the Probe: Tax officials emphasize that this investigation goes beyond individual tax evasion cases. They warn that it could expose deeper issues such as abuse of authority, unethical practices, and structural corruption in various government agencies.
The uncovering of hidden wealth, illegal assets, and complex schemes to evade tax has implications for governance, public trust, and the integrity of institutions. Bringing such powerful officials under scrutiny sends a strong message that no one is above the law.
As the Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit intensifies its probe into these 150 influential individuals, the government appears determined to crack down on tax evasion and improve revenue mobilization. The ongoing investigations and tax recoveries underscore a new era of accountability where public officials, regardless of their rank or position, will face consequences for hiding income and evading taxes.The final outcomes of these investigations could reshape how financial transparency and tax compliance are enforced within Bangladesh’s public sector, signaling stronger governance and institutional integrity.