The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is likely to allow reactivation of 45 out of 309 frozen bank accounts primarily after deducting the tax evaded by the account holders and 10 per cent fine.
Sources said the NBR will give directives to the tax commissioners concerned after having discussions with government high-ups on the matter.
During the tenure of the immediate past caretaker government, 335 accounts of both Awami League and BNP leaders and businessmen were frozen. Of those, 26 accounts were reactivated at different times.
NBR is seeking guidelines from the government high-ups on the rest 309 accounts.
Anti-corruption task force had conducted investigation and submitted 119 reports on the bank accounts before its abolition on January 1, NBR sources said.
It will ask the tax commissioners concerned to find out the amount of tax evaded by the account holders and take necessary steps about the accounts on which task force reports are available but no case has been filed. There are about 45 such accounts.
NBR has classified the frozen accounts into three categories-- the account holders against whom cases have been filed and verdict has been delivered, those against whom cases have been filed and are now under trial; and the holders of the accounts into which investigation have been conducted but no case has been filed.
NBR has also sought opinions from the law ministry on about 132 frozen accounts for taking necessary steps.
The frozen bank account holders include former prime minister Khaleda Zia, her son Arafat Rahman Koko, her brother Maj (retd) Shamim Iskandar, her former political advisers Harris Chowdhury and Mosaddek Ali Falu, her assignment officer Dr Firoz Mahmud Iqbal, Khaleda's nephew Shahrin Islam Tuhin and his wife Ayesha Islam, controversial businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun, BNP leaders Moudud Ahmed, Nazmul Huda, Shahjahan Siraj and his wife Rabeya Siraj, son Rajib Siraj Opu and his wife Farzana Khan, Mirza Abbas, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Mir Mohammad Nasir, AKM Musharraf Hossain, Amanullah Aman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Sajahan Omor, Ziaul Haq Zia, former Khulna City Corporation mayor Tayebur Rahman, former lawmakers Naser Rahman, Habibul Islam Habib, Wadud Bhuiyan, Dewan Muhammad Salauddin, Ali Azgar Lobi, Rashiduzzaman Millat, Kazi Salimul Haq, former Dhaka City Corporation commissioner Monwar Hossain Dipjol, Doctors' Association of Bangladesh leader Dr Jahid Hossain and his wife Rifat Hossain.
Awami League leaders whose accounts were frozen include Mohammad Nasim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, ex-chief whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah and his wife, former lawmakers Joynal Hazari, AHM Mostafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), Haji Maqbul Hossain, his wife Fatema Tahera and son Masudur Rahman, Dr HBM Iqbal and his wife Dolly Iqbal, former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya's son Dipu Chowdhury, former minister Sajeda Chowdhury's son Shadab Akbar, Mostafa Rashidi Suja and his wife Khodeja Suja, Sheikh Helal and his wife Rupa Chowdhury , Swechchasebak League President AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Secretary Pankaj Debnath.
Others include owner of Orion Group Obaidul Karim and four members of his family, Giridharilal Modi of Uttara Group, Salman F Rahman of Beximco Group, former additional IGP Shahidullah Khan, Proshika Chairman Kazi Farook Ahmed, ex-adviser to the caretaker government justice Fazlul Haq, former secretary Ismail Jabiullah, former NBR member ATM Sarwar and his wife and former PSC member Mahfuzur Rahman.