The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday dismissed Joint Commissioner Md Lutf ul Kabir after charges of misconduct and desertion under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018 were found proven through a full departmental proceeding.
The order, issued in the public interest, takes immediate effect.
According to a gazette notification, Lutf ul Kabir, previously posted at the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (South), had been transferred to the Commissionerate in Jashore under an NBR order issued in October 2024.
The Dhaka (South) office subsequently released him on October 28, 2024 to enable him to join his new workplace.
Despite the release order, he failed to join the Jashore office.
Instead, he submitted a leave application dated October 28, 2024, which was backdated by having it received in the relevant register on October 27, 2024 through a subordinate official.
As the leave request was not approved, his prolonged absence from duty was deemed unauthorised.
It was found that he violated lawful orders of his superiors and had remained absent from work for more than 60 days without permission.
He was suspended on March 2, 2025 through a notification issued by the Internal Resources Division.
After examining his statements, relevant documents, and other evidence, authorities determined that the allegations, if proven, could warrant a major penalty.
To ensure fairness, Commissioner Mohammad Akbar Hossain of the VAT Intelligence and Investigation Directorate was appointed as the inquiry officer.
The inquiry officer submitted his report on June 15, 2025, concluding that both charges—misconduct under Rule 3(b) and desertion under Rule 3(g)—had been proved.
After reviewing the report and all related documents, the authorities issued a second show-cause notice, informing the accused officer that dismissal or another major penalty was under consideration.
He was directed to respond within seven working days.
Although Lutf ul Kabir submitted his second written reply on July 24, 2025, the response was judged unsatisfactory.
The matter was then referred to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) for its statutory opinion.
The BPSC agreed with the administrative ministry’s decision and recommended imposing the major penalty of dismissal under Rule 4(3)(gha).
The decision to dismiss Lutf ul Kabir from government service received the approval of the President, the notification said.
Following a final review of the allegations, his written replies, the inquiry report, the BPSC’s opinion and all relevant documents, the government confirmed that the charges of misconduct and desertion had been proved beyond doubt.