Matiur Rahman, the former chairman of the Customs, Excise, and VAT Appellate Tribunal, is once again in the news. Last year, he gained attention before Eid-ul-Azha when his son tried to buy a goat for Tk 15 lakh. But now, far more serious allegations have surfaced.
Misuse of Power to Help Businesses Avoid Taxes
According to the Attorney General’s Office, during his short four-month tenure (from 22 February to 23 June 2024), Matiur passed several rulings in favour of companies involved in tax evasion cases. These rulings reportedly caused the government to lose around Tk 1,000 crore in revenue.
270 Appeals Resolved 84 Against the Government
Sources from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said that Matiur resolved a total of 270 appeals related to customs and VAT cases during this period. Out of these, 84 were ruled against the government, which contributed to a massive financial loss.
Attorney General Confirms Corruption Probe
Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman confirmed that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating whether Matiur took any illegal benefits in return for these rulings. Legal actions have already been initiated.
21 Tribunal Verdicts Challenged in High Court
So far, 21 tribunal verdicts under Matiur’s leadership have been challenged in the High Court, involving revenue claims worth Tk 300 crore. These verdicts were seen as unusual and suspicious and are now being reviewed by the Attorney General’s office.
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Bribery Suspected in Favourable Judgments
Initial findings suggest that Matiur may have received illegal benefits from companies in exchange for ruling in their favour. This prompted the NBR to request legal action and challenge these decisions.
ACC Files 4 Cases Over Illegal Wealth
The ACC has filed four separate cases against Matiur and his family, accusing them of accumulating illegal wealth worth nearly Tk 1,000 crore. Both Matiur and his first wife are now in jail as the investigations continue.
Used Key Posts to Build Wealth
An ACC investigation officer revealed that Matiur used his powerful roles in the NBR—especially as a customs commissioner at various ports—to amass significant wealth. A senior NBR official confirmed that an internal investigation also found evidence of abuse of power and influence.
Controversial Steel Company Verdict
One of the most controversial rulings came on 12 June 2024, involving a leading steel company. The company was accused of under-invoicing imported chemicals by declaring a much lower price of $3.67 per kg. The real market price was much higher, which led to huge tax evasion.
Even after these discrepancies were caught, Chattogram Customs cleared the shipment and claimed the declared price was correct. When the customs commissioner challenged this, Matiur dismissed the appeal, allowing the company’s declared price to stand.
NBR Took the Case to High Court
Following this ruling, the NBR filed a petition in the High Court asking for the verdict to be cancelled. The court has already asked why the verdict should not be declared invalid.
Multiple Tax Fraud Appeals Rejected
Before being removed from the tribunal on 23 June 2024, Matiur had dismissed at least five more tax evasion appeals involving the same steel company. All those rulings have now been legally challenged.
Chemical Company Tax Evasion Also Involved
In another case, a chemical company evaded around Tk 7 crore in taxes through false import records in 2023. Matiur ruled in favour of the company. This decision is also under review in the High Court.
Lavish Lifestyle and Hidden Properties
Matiur gained national attention during the “goat scandal” when his son attempted to buy a goat worth Tk 15 lakh. This incident raised public questions about his source of wealth.
Huge List of Properties Across Bangladesh
Media reports revealed that Matiur owns a large number of properties, including lands, apartments, factories, luxury houses, resorts, and amusement parks. These assets are spread across Dhaka, Barishal, Gazipur, Narsingdi, and Feni, mostly under the names of his first wife, children, and relatives.
Expensive Resorts and Parks in Narsingdi
One such example is “Wonder Park”, an amusement park built on 15 bighas of land in Narsingdi under his wife’s name. Another property is the “Apon Bhubon Picnic and Shooting Spot,” a luxury resort built on 60 bighas, jointly owned by Matiur and his wife.
Separate Luxury Homes for Two Families
Sources added that Matiur built two separate luxury duplex houses—one for each of his wives and their families.
Suspicious Stock Market Profits
Matiur is also believed to have made large profits from the stock market, which he considers a key source of his wealth. In a past TV interview, he admitted to earning six times profit by investing in pre-IPO shares of Fortune Shoes, helping him gain an estimated Tk 150 crore.
Source: TBS
