The BCS (Taxation) Association has strongly opposed the speration of the revenue policy from the revenue management calling for the immediate scrapping of the draft ordinance in this regard.
The association at a meeting held on Saturday said that there are significant inconsistencies and potential threats to the rights and career prospects of thousands of officials working under the National Board of Revenue (NBR), including members of the BCS (Tax) and BCS (Customs and Excise) cadres.
In a press release issued on Sunday signed by its president Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui and general secretary Syed Mohidul Hasan, the association said that the draft ordinance contains numerous inconsistencies that conflict with the legitimate rights and career development of officials within the NBR.
Furthermore, it lacks legal and administrative clarity regarding the future of revenue management should the NBR be dissolved. Therefore, the association has called for the immediate cancellation of the ordinance.
The association questioned the necessity of abolishing the country’s only revenue agency, urging the government to gather feedback from all stakeholders before proceeding.
It also demanded a comprehensive review of the potential impact of dismantling the NBR, with expert opinions taken into serious consideration.
Emphasising that revenue reform is crucial for national development, economic prosperity, and self-reliance, the association proposed the formation of a national-level commission or committee.
This body should include renowned economists, legal experts, representatives from business organisations, revenue specialists, and officers from the Income Tax and Customs departments.
Final decisions on structural changes and overall revenue reform should be based on the recommendations of this commission and the opinions of the relevant departments.
Additionally, the BCS (Taxation) Association urged the government to adopt a broader approach to revenue reform.
Instead of merely focusing on organisational separation, the reform process should prioritise essential initiatives such as formulating a sustainable revenue policy, amending relevant laws, modernizing and automating revenue management, and enhancing the institutional capacity of the NBR.
The association reiterated its commitment to meaningful reform that genuinely benefits the nation, rather than ad hoc structural changes that could create long-term complications.