The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has directed all banks and non-bank financial institutions to freeze the accounts of Asiatic Marketing Communications Limited, one of Bangladesh’s leading advertising agencies, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged tax evasion.

According to a report by UNB, official instructions were recently sent to senior officials across the financial sector to enforce the directive. A senior CIC official confirmed the action, stating, “We’ve instructed banks and financial institutions to freeze all accounts of Asiatic Marketing Communications Limited. The company is under investigation for suspected tax evasion.”

The scope of the probe includes scrutiny of Asiatic’s declared income and assets to determine whether there are discrepancies or any undeclared wealth held by the company. Investigators also examine financial records to identify any assets or earnings that may not have been reported in the firm’s tax filings.

The move signals a broader enforcement push by the NBR to tighten compliance and detect irregularities in corporate financial practices. CIC officials did not disclose the specific value of assets frozen or the timeline of the investigation. Still, they indicated that further action would depend on the outcome of the financial review.

Asiatic Marketing Communications Limited has yet to issue a formal response regarding the allegations or the freeze order. The company is widely known for its prominent role in advertising and communications and long-standing presence in the sector.