The National Board of Revenue (NBR) conducted coordinated raids at four establishments in Dhaka on Saturday, including a business owned by content creator Salman Muqtadir’s father-in-law, over alleged violations involving alcohol products, customs duty, value-added tax (VAT) and income tax.
Fu-Wang Bowling and Services Limited, owned by Sheikh Nur Islam, was among the establishments raided. The NBR said the operation also covered allegations of illegal sourcing of alcohol products, tax evasion and the supply of alcoholic products to unauthorized customers.
According to NBR sources, confidential information was received alleging that several bars, restaurants, diplomatic bonded warehouses and duty-free shops in Dhaka were procuring alcohol and alcohol products from illegal sources.
There were also allegations of evasion of applicable customs duty, VAT and income tax on the products and supplying them to unauthorized customers.
Following the allegations, a special operation was launched with the coordination of various agencies under the NBR.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) formed 4 separate teams for the operation. Officials from the NBR’s Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit, Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), VAT Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, and Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (North), joined the operation on Saturday.
As part of the operation, the teams conducted on-site inspections, searches and document checks at the 4 establishments. In some cases, activities to seize the relevant products were also carried out.
The establishments raided on Saturday are Raw Canvas Restaurant & Bar, Habib Hotel International Ltd, Margarita Lounge and Fu-Wang Bowling and Services Limited.
NBR sources said the quantity of alcohol and alcohol products stored at the establishments was being verified. The authorities were also checking the legal sources of the stored products, import or purchase documents, whether applicable customs duty, VAT and other taxes had been paid, and the legality of the products.
They were also investigating how the establishments procured the products and whether they were supplied through legally authorized sources and to authorized customers.
NBR officials said further legal action would be taken based on the preliminary information obtained during the operation. If any irregularities or tax evasion are found, action may be taken under the relevant laws.
The NBR has arranged a press conference on Saturday night to disclose the preliminary findings and overall results of the operation. The press conference will be held at 10:30pm on the ground floor of the National Board of Revenue in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Earlier, on Thursday, 4 warehouses belonging to Salman Muqtadir’s father-in-law Sheikh Nur Islam were sealed over allegations of storing duty-free alcohol.
