Dhaka, Nov. 19 -- Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) chairman and former National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Mainul Khan has stepped down from his post with 10 months still remaining in his tenure, amid mounting allegations of bribery, money laundering, and illegal accumulation of wealth.

According to officials of the BTTC and NBR, he abruptly left the country in what they describe as an attempt to evade ongoing corruption investigations.

Sources in the Ministry of Commerce say Mainul submitted a voluntary retirement application, which is dated October 30 and currently held by the ministry. He is reportedly in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah, making him unreachable for comment. A government order issued on October 20 granted...