United News of Bangladesh

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been gripped by an uneasy situation as some of its top officials were sent into forced retirement and others put under the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) scanner allegedly for their involvement in the recent movement under the banner of the ‘NBR Reform Unity Council’. “How would it be an easy situation in the NBR while there are so many things happening in the NBR within this short time?” a senior official of the NBR told UNB. The official who joined the recent movement, preferring anonymity, said that resentment is brewing among the NBR officials and it might take a serious turn. The NBR Reform Unity Council had been demonstrating with a series of protest programmes demanding structural reforms and the removal of the NBR Chairman citing allegations of administrative irregularities, officer intimidation, and obstruction of reform efforts. Since early June the agitating officials held a complete shutdown, marches, work abstentions, hunger strikes, and human chains, disrupting services in tax, VAT and customs offices across the country. The protests began after the government issued an ordinance on May 12 dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division, with scope to inject Admin Cadre officials in these two divisions. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council on Sunday withdrew its ‘complete shutdown’ and ‘march for NBR’ programme, after a group of leading business people emerged as a bridge between the government and them.  The government has also formed a five-member adviser-level committee to suggest ways to resolve the stalemate centring the reforms in NBR and they held a meeting with the NBR officials on Thursday. The NBR officials were asked to submit their proposals within the next two weeks. NBR launches ‘a-Chalan’ for instant online tax payments The situation seemed to be normal as Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed asked the NBR officials to start their works “without fear and favour” and NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan requested all to work for the country “forgetting past disputes”. But Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday launched a probe against six senior officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on charges of corruption, abuse of power and nepotism in facilitating illegal benefits for individuals and institutions over the past two decades. The six officials under investigation are: AKM Badiul Alam, Member (Income Tax Policy); Mirza Ashiq Rana, Additional Tax Commissioner, Tax Zone-8, Dhaka; Mohammad Morshed Uddin Khan, Joint Tax Commissioner, BCS Tax Academy; Monalisa Shahreen Sushmita, Deputy Tax Commissioner, Tax Zone-16, Dhaka; Hasan Tarek Rikabdar, Additional Commissioner, Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, VAT, Dhaka; and Sadhan Kumar Kundu, Additional Commissioner, Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (South). Among them, Hasan Tarek serves as the president of the NBR Reform Unity Council and others joined the movement in different categories. The ACC again on Tuesday launched formal investigation against five more senior officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) over allegations of amassing illegal wealth, abuse of power, and favouritism. The officials facing the probe are Abdul Rashid Miah, Additional Commissioner, Large Taxpayers Unit (VAT); Md Lutfur Azim, Member; Md Alamgir Hossain, former Additional Director General, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID); Md Shihabul Islam, Deputy Tax Commissioner, Tax Zone-16, Dhaka; and Md Tarek Hasan, Joint Commissioner.  That is not all. The government on Wednesday sent three NBR members, who were the top most officials of the cadre, into early retirement. According to the Internal Resources Division  website, all of them were sent to forced retirement for the sake of public interest. They are-- Hossain Ahmed (customs policy and ICT), Md Alamgir Hossain and Md Abdur Rouf (VAT policy). The IRD also sent Md. Sobbir Ahmed, (Commissoner of Taxes Zone- Barishal) and M Moinul Erfan (joint director general of Tax inspection directorate) into early retirement. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended Commissioner (in-charge) of Chattogram Custom House Md Zakir Hossain for allegedly disobeying official instructions that resulted in disruption of trade activities and significant revenue losses. According to an NBR circular issued on Monday (July 1), Zakir Hossain violated a prior directive dated June 18, 2025, which ordered all revenue-related offices, including Customs, VAT and Income Tax departments, to remain open on June 21 and June 28 (both Saturdays) to boost revenue collection. Despite this instruction, the Chattogram Custom House remained closed on June 28 (Saturday) and June 29 (Sunday), causing disruptions in import and export activities, and subsequent financial losses to the government. Citing this breach, the NBR has suspended him. Revenue collection activities across the country have come to a near-complete halt due to an unprecedented shutdown of offices under the National Board of Revenue (NBR), triggered by protests and non-cooperation from officials to press home their demands.  On June 28 and 29, key NBR wings, including Customs, VAT and Income Tax, remained virtually inoperative due to the 'complete shutdown' programme and 'march for NBR' programme. The officials, under the banner of NBR Reform Unity Council, had called the protest programmes, demanding the immediate removal of its chairman. NBR enabling companies to file VAT returns from their own systems The NBR Reform Unity Council had been demonstrating with a series of protest programmes demanding structural reforms and the removal of the NBR chairman citing allegations of administrative irregularities, officer intimidation and obstruction of pro-reform efforts. A former commissioner of the NBR who retired a couple of years back, said that those who have been given forced retirement were most sincere and hundred percent honest. “All of them were clean imaged officers, they were in policy wing as they were capable, honest and skilled,” he said, seeking anonymity. But he failed to explain why these officers were sent for early retirement and what is the logic behind such an act of the NBR. “This creates serious resentment among the other officials as far as I know,” he added. He mentioned that these officers were in the forefront and they were not accepting the ongoing irregularities and anomalies in the NBR.

The much-talked-about meeting scheduled for 4pm between Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and the NBR Reform Unity Council will not take place. According to NBR sources, the Finance Adviser ‘declined’ to meet the Unity Council members. Finance Ministry sources said the Adviser asked the agitating members to call off their protest programme first as a ‘precondition’ for any dialogue. NBR sources said a 20-member delegation led by Unity Council President Hasan Muhammad Tareq Rikabdar was on its way to meet the Adviser when they were informed about the ‘precondition’. Officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, continued their ‘complete shutdown’ for the second consecutive day on Sunday, demanding the immediate removal of the NBR chairman. The protesters (officials) staged a sit-in in front of the NBR headquarters in Agargaon in the morning, while a large contingent of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police personnel were deployed inside the building. Entry to NBR headquarters ‘restricted’ amid officials’ protests The Unity Council has been staging a series of protest programmes, demanding structural reforms and the removal of the NBR Chairman, citing allegations of administrative irregularities, officer intimidation and obstruction of pro-reform efforts. Since early June, the agitating officials have observed work abstentions, hunger strikes and human chains, disrupting services in tax, VAT and customs offices across the country. The protest began after the government issued an ordinance on May 12 dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.

The NBR Reform Unity Council on Sunday withdrew its previously announced full-fledged strike and welcomed the government’s announcement that all necessary amendments to Revenue Policy and Administration Reform Ordinance, 2025, will be made by July 31.The announcement came after the clarification of the Finance Ministry which clearly started that the NBR will not be dissolved but strengthened as an independent and specialized department under the Ministry of Finance.“A specialized institution will be formed for revenue policy formulation, and the existing ordinance will not be implemented until the necessary amendments are made,” the Council said in a statement issued on Sunday night. NBR to be upgraded as independent and specialised body: Finance Ministry “We welcome the government’s commitment to sustainable revenue reform through discussions with the NBR, the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee, and key stakeholders. We believe this marks the beginning of Bangladesh’s journey toward establishing an internationally benchmarked, independent, and empowered revenue agency,” the statement reads.The Council said this declaration from the government proves the legitimacy of their long-standing demands and programmes.However, it noted that their second demand—immediate removal of the current NBR Chairman—remains unmet.“We hope the government will soon make a positive decision in favor of this demand. Meanwhile, the previously announced non-cooperation movement with the current NBR Chairman will continue as declared,” said the statement of the Council.“With everyone’s support, we are confident that a sustainable and people-oriented revenue system will be built in this country,” it added.The Council also recalled its earlier commitment to the nation, “We had promised that if our demands were fulfilled, we would work beyond office hours to clear any backlogs.”“In line with that commitment, we now announce that additional work beyond regular office hours will begin as needed,” the statement said.

The NBR Reform Unity Council on Saturday dismissed the claims of any compromise with the Office of the Finance Adviser over ongoing revenue sector reforms, asserting that no agreement was reached during the Thursday’s [May 22] meeting. In a statement, this unity council said the subsequent press release suggesting National Board of Revenue (NBR) would not be abolished until the issuance of an ordinance, saying it created ‘unnecessary confusion’ among the public, particularly within the media community. Citing Section 1(2) of the promulgated ordinance, the unity council argued that the NBR must be abolished until the government gazette notification is issued to operationalize the ordinance. The statement outlined four key demands, immediate repeal of the promulgated ordinance, removal of NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, public disclosure of the consultative explanation proposal on revenue reform, inclusive discussions on the proposed reform draft involving all stakeholders, government bodies, civil society and relevant empowered members. “We need to ensure a proper and sustainable revenue system,” the council said in the statement. They claimed that their demands are very logical in the larger interest for the country, as acknowledged by country’s leading economists, think tanks and other experts. “We want a fundamental reform of the NBR and the reform we want will be similar to the best system and method recognised in the international arena,” it added. The council also expressed concern that the proposed reforms should not serve the interests of any specific group under the guise of national security, stating, “Country and its development plan will be accurately reflected; the revenue power will be more effective, progressive and corruption-free and the reform will not be a tool of special security interests.” NBR officials go on full-fledged countrywide strike The statement questioned why the government has yet to respond clearly to their four-point demand, adding, “….and due to whose instigation, we are being opposed.” As the government has not yet given a clear answer to their above four specific demands, according to the statement, their previously announced program of action will remain unchanged. On May 25 (Sunday) they called for a full-day strike at all Income Tax, Customs, and VAT offices, excluding Customs House and LC from 9am to 5pm. Export and international services will remain exempt from the strike. Besides, they announced for a full-day strike at all offices on May 26 (Monday) except international services under the International Member. The unity council has called upon all officers and employees from all tax, customs and VAT-related departments in Dhaka to gather at the NBR premises at 9am on both days. The statement also noted a heightened security presence at the NBR building on Saturday morning, including police, BGB, and RAB personnel, raising concerns among Council members, stating, “We have a question in our minds about this.”

The NBR Reform Unity Council on Wednesday announced a series of fresh programmes, including continuous non-cooperation with the NBR chairman, to press home their demands. Beginning today (Wednesday), the Council will continue its non-cooperation with the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), said a press statement issued by the Unity. The statement also mentioned that a memorandum outlining their demands will be submitted to the Chief Adviser on Thursday. On Thursday, a sit-in programme will be staged at NBR and its respective offices in and outside Dhaka. But export and international passenger services will be exempted from this. A complete strike will be observed in all offices of the Tax, Customs and VAT Department, except Customs House and LC Stations, on May 24 and May 25. The strike will be observed from 9 am to 5 pm at Customs House and LC Stations on these two days. But, export and international passenger services will be exempted from the strike. A complete strike will be observed in all the offices of the Tax, Customs and VAT Department, except International Passenger Services, from May 26. The Unity today included a new demand with their old three ones, which is immediate removal of NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman. The old demands are: The issued ordinance should be immediately repealed, recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Revenue Reform should be published on the website for the public and After discussing and reviewing the draft proposed by the NBR and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee, appropriate and sustainable revenue system reforms should be ensured with the opinions of all stakeholders, including aspiring organisations, business organisations, civil society and political leadership. In the statement, the Unity mentioned that one thing has been apparent to them from the beginning that the NBR Chairman has not provided accurate information to the government policymakers regarding the scope and rationality of our systematic program. “Instead, he has concealed the information, which has brought the situation to its current state,” it said. Meanwhile, the process of forming an ad hoc committee of the NBR Reform Unity Council, comprising officials and employees from all levels of the Customs, VAT and Tax Departments of the NBR, has almost been finalised. The initial list of members of the ad hoc committee for grade-10 and above will be published tomorrow (Thursday). Then, the initial list of members from grade-11 to grade-20 will also be published sequentially. NBR  staff  continue work abstention for day 3

NBR Reform Unity Council on Tuesday termed their meeting with the finance adviser unsuccessful. In a press release it said that a meeting was held at the Conference Room of the Finance Division between a 13-member delegation of the NBR Reform Unity Council and the adviser, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, in the presence of two other advisers. The members of the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee, three former members of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the secretary of the Finance Ministry, and the chairman of the National Board of Revenue were also present at the meeting. “We would like to inform all concerned that the meeting ended without yielding any fruitful outcome,” the press release said. An official press briefing will be held on Wednesday to announce the next course of action by the NBR Reform Unity Council. NBR to remain split, misconceptions cleared: Finance Adviser Furthermore, it said that all officials and employees of all levels working under the Income Tax, Customs, and VAT departments in Dhaka-based offices of the NBR will hold a sit-in program on the ground floor of the NBR headquarters.  Officials and employees of NBR offices outside Dhaka will carry out similar sit-in programs at their respective workplaces. It will start from 9:00am and continue until the conclusion of the press briefing.

The NBR Reform Unity Council has suspended its ongoing protest programme following a government proposal for dialogue, initiated under the directive of the Chief Adviser. In an official statement, the Council on Monday said it received a call for discussions on behalf of the government. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 3:30 pm. NBR Reform Unity Council to continue 6-hour pen-down strike on Monday The council came up with the announcement after observing their 6-hour pen-down strike for the fifth day on Monday. According to the Council, the Finance Adviser along with several other members of the advisory council are expected to participate in the talks. Finance Adviser to discuss NBR reforms with officials Tuesday “We have always maintained that we are open to dialogue. Accordingly, we have decided that a delegation from our side will join the discussion,” the statement says. In light of this development, the Council announced that its ongoing protest programme will be temporarily paused tomorrow. The next course of action will be determined based on the outcome of the meeting, the statement said. The NBR Reform Unity Council had been observing the pen-down strike for several days to press home their demands for sustainable and inclusive NBR reform. The Council’s key demands include the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Revenue Ordinance, public disclosure of the NBR Reform Advisory Committee’s report and a comprehensive reform of the revenue system through meaningful consultations with stakeholders like NBR officials, business associations, civil society members and political leaders.  

The NBR Reform Unity Council on Saturday announced a fresh six-hour pen-down strike, scheduled for Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, to press home their demands for sustainable and inclusive revenue reform. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Revenue Building.  NBR  staff  continue work abstention for day 3 The Council’s key demands include the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Revenue Ordinance, public disclosure of the NBR Reform Advisory Committee’s report, and a comprehensive reform of the revenue system through meaningful consultations with stakeholders like NBR officials, business associations, civil society members and political leaders. They reiterated that, as in previous strikes, international passenger services, export operations and national budget preparation will be exempt from the pen-down strike. The Unity Council emphasised their desire for a peaceful resolution through dialogue with the government. “We hope the government will sit down with us for discussions. Let us make it clear—our door for dialogue has always been open, remains open and will continue to remain open,” said a statement. Earlier in the day, a five-hour pen-down strike was spontaneously observed from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm across various offices under the Customs, VAT and Tax departments, as well as the National Board of Revenue (NBR).  NBR staff's pen-down strike marks second day Thursday Officials and employees at all levels participated in the programme, with stakeholders from various sectors expressing solidarity with the movement. In their statement, the Council reiterated that a timely and sustainable reform of the revenue system is essential for national interest. They noted that NBR officials have long been demanding such reforms and yet the government issued the ordinance without consulting the very stakeholders responsible for its implementation. Besides, the report from the reform committee formed by the government has not been made public or discussed. According to the Council, such a top-down approach to reform could severely destabilize the country’s revenue administration. The Unity Council expressed deep gratitude to all participants in the pen-down strike and extended thanks to journalists, media, civil society and other stakeholders for their unwavering support of their just demands. They also issued an apology for any temporary inconvenience caused to taxpayers and service recipients, stating that this short-term sacrifice aims to secure long-term benefits for the nation and its people. The Council further committed to working beyond official hours to resolve any pending matters if their demands are met. “We want to state clearly: we are in favour of reform, and we strongly support it. We also agree that revenue policy and revenue administration should be separate. There is no disagreement on that. However, reforms must be realistic, inclusive, and based on stakeholder input, while recognizing the experience and competence of officials and staff,” the statement said. The Council also clarified that their movement has remained peaceful and systematic from the beginning. “We strongly condemn the attempt by certain outsiders to disrupt our movement yesterday through infiltration,” the statement added.

The NBR Reform Unity Council in a press release on Wednesday thanked all NBR employees and officials for their enthusiastic participation in the first day's event of the three- day pen down work abstention to protest split of the revenue authority. In the press release the platform said relevant stakeholders also expressed solidarity with the movement. The NBR Reform Unity Council, the press release said, has long been calling for a modern and sustainable reform of the national revenue system. Officials have expressed deep concern over the recently promulgated  revenue ordinance, which they claim was imposed without consulting the thousands of officers and employees in the customs and taxation services—despite being key stakeholders in the reform process. They also noted that the government-formed reform committee’s recommendations have not yet been made public or subjected to any meaningful discussion. The council fears that implementing the ordinance without transparency or stakeholder engagement will lead to chaos within the revenue administration. Bangladesh signs deal to receive $1.3 billion IMF loan: BB Governor In the press release, the NBR Reform Unity Council apologised to taxpayers and service seekers for any inconvenience caused. The council emphasised that this temporary sacrifice is aimed at safeguarding the national interest and ensuring sustainable reform in the revenue system. The protest action will continue on Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. However, international passenger services, export operations, and national budget preparation activities will remain outside the purview of the strike to avoid disruption to essential services like today. In a related development, the press release said, several key members of the BCS Customs and VAT Association—including the vice president, secretary general, treasurer, and joint secretary general—have resigned from the association’s executive committee in protest over institutional indifference to service-related issues and other concerns. Similarly, office bearers of the BCS (Taxation) Association have also started resigning from their respective posts in phases, it claimed. The growing unrest underscores the urgent need for the government to initiate an inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure meaningful and sustainable revenue reform.