e-Orange scam Does NBR boss think himself an emperor: HC

Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Sunday expressed deep anger over the failure of the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to submit a report to it on the issue of collection of revenue against transactions done by the scam-hit e-commerce platform e-Orange.
Addressing the state lawyer the High Court said, “Why did he (NBR Chairman) not following the court order? What is the reason? Does he think himself an emperor? Ask the Chairman of the NBR to submit the explanation and information that was sought by the court.”
While hearing a writ petition the High Court Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the observation.
State lawyer and also Deputy Attorney General, AKM Amin Uddin replied the court that he would carry the massage.
Following the writ petition the HC on January 29 this year granted two weeks time for the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to inform it whether any revenue had been realised against the transactions done by the scam-hit e-commerce platform e-Orange.
It had also given same time for the Home Ministry to inform it over their steps to bring back Sohel Rana, a suspended police official who is deeply involved with the e-Orange scam, to the country.
The two government bodies had been asked to submit their compliance reports over the issue and the court had fixed February 19 for further hearing on the issue. Appropriate action would be taken against them if they fail to submit their compliance reports within the period, also warned the court.
Accordingly the matter came for hearing on Sunday.
Barriser Md Abdul Qaium appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioners, while senior lawyer Shamim Khaled Ahmed represented the Bangladesh Financial Intelligent Unit (BFIU) and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state in the case hearing.
Lawyer Abdul Qaium said, “The NBR Chairman did not submit any compliance report. The Interpol sought some information to issue a red notice against Sohel Rana that came into the report of the Home Ministry.”
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik then said that the Interpol has already issued a red notice against Sohel Rana. He further said that he informed the NBR to submit a report to the court over the issue. But the organisation has not given any importance into the matter, added the state lawyer.
Then the court said, “We are giving the last chance. If they don’t submit any report then we will summon them. The matter will come for further hearing on March 27.”
On behalf of 547 defrauded consumers, Afjal Hossain, Arafat Ali, Tarequl Alam, Sakibul Islam Shohag, Rana Khan and Habibullah Zahid filed the petition on April 3 in 2022.
Following the writ petition the High Court on April 7 in 2022 directed the BFIU and the ACC for conducting a probe into the allegations of money laundering against the owners of the e-Orange. The BFIU and ACC had also been ordered to submit reports after inquiring into the money laundering allegations before the HC in four months.
Complying with the order, the BFIU, ACC and the CID of Police submitted separate reports to the HC on November 3 last year. However, the HC on that day could not be happy with the reports submitted by the government organisations.
Then the HC asked the NBR and the Home Ministry to inform it over revenue collection from the transactions done by the e-Orange and steps to bring back Sohel Rana. The HC on January 29 extended two weeks time for submitting compliances.