United News of Bangladesh

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council on Sunday withdrew its ‘complete shutdown’ and ‘march for NBR’ programme. The unity council President Hasan Muhammad Tareq Rikabdar announced the decision after holding a meeting with leading businesspeople. Meanwhile, the government has formed a five-member adviser-level committee to suggest ways to resolve the stalemate centring the reforms in NBR, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said the same day. He said the committee will hold discussions with relevant stakeholders and review proposals to reform the revenue board. Earlier on Sunday, the interim government also warned that it would be compelled to be tough to protect the country’s economy and the interests of its people if the officials and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) do not return to their work. Will be compelled to be tough if agitation continues: Govt to NBR protesters “We hope that the officials and employees will return to work immediately and refrain from illegal and destructive activities against national interests. Otherwise, the government will be compelled to turn tough to protect the people and the economy of the country,” said the government in a statement shared by the Chief Adviser’s press wing. The government, according to the statement, has also decided to declare all categories of jobs under customs houses, ICDs, bond commissionerates and customs stations, under the jurisdiction of the NBR, as ‘Essential Services’ to ensure uninterrupted import-export and foreign trade activities in the national interest.

The NBR Reform Unity Council on Saturday announced that their ongoing complete shutdown and peaceful march will continue on Sunday. The announcement came through a press statement on Saturday afternoon as it observed the first day of their shutdown with march. “There will be a complete shutdown in all tax, customs and VAT offices. However, international services will be excluded from this complete shutdown,” the statement reads. The Paceful March for NBR programme will be held from all tax, customs and VAT offices across the country on June 29, 2025. The statement also expressed discontent over the business community’s statenment that the removal of the NBR Chairman is in no way desirable and would not bring any success. “We express our deep regret that their press release does not clarify why the removal of a bureaucrat—who has become a collaborator of a fallen fascist regime—is not desirable to them,” it said. The Unity Council reaffirmed their stance saying they have already clarified why the removal of NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan, “a collaborator of the fascist government,” is essential for “complete, genuine, sustainable, and realistic” reforms of the revenue system. Business leaders warn of Tk 3,000 crore daily loss as NBR shutdown begins “We hope that the government, the business community, and the people of the country will support our demand for the removal of this controversial NBR Chairman,” it added. The statement reiterated, “There is no alternative to his removal for the sake of building a capable, modern, and harassment-free National Board of Revenue, and play a positive role in overall reforms, increasing export income, and enhancing revenue collection.” The Unity Council, however, commended the business community for their overall position on revenue reform. “They have appropriately outlined the process and objectives of revenue reform,” the statement said. The Council also expressed willingness to hold discussions with the Finance Adviser to resolve the situation. “In order to resolve the situation in the interest of the country and revenue, the NBR Reform Unity Council is always ready to hold discussions with the Finance Adviser  any time to rationalise the reform programme in the light of the press release issued on May 25, 2025.” NBR Reform Unity Council leaders to join Tuesday’s meet to resolve crisis “But no clear steps have been taken regarding this discussion in the light of our such request from the Finance Minister's office,” it added. The Unity Council requested the Chief Adviser to intervene in the issue to resolve the problem for the sake of the bigger interest of the country.

NBR Reform Unity Council on Wednesday rejected the Finance Adviser’s call for a dialogue aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis surrounding the proposed restructuring of the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Finance Adviser calls meeting with BCS Tax, Customs officials over NBR issues Unity Council President and Additional Commissioner Hassan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar made the announcement at a press briefing on the premises of the NBR headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. In a written statement, Rikabdar said the government has yet to withdraw its plan to restructure the NBR and instead of establishing it as an autonomous and specialised department under the Ministry of Finance it is backtracking from earlier positions. He further stated that as representatives of the NBR Reform Unity Council were not invited to the discussion scheduled for Thursday, no one from the Council would participate. “We have not been given an opportunity to join the dialogue; therefore, our participation is not possible,” he said. The Council reiterated its one-point demand—the immediate removal of the current NBR Chairman. They alleged the Chairman is third on a list of 44 bureaucrats, six of whom have already been sent into compulsory retirement as they were involved in implementing the “agenda of the ousted fascist Awami League government.” “We believe meaningful reforms of the revenue system must begin with the removal of the current NBR Chairman,” the statement declared. The Council also announced a series of protest programmes. A pen-down and sit-in demonstration will be observed on June 26 from 12pm to 5pm across NBR offices, excluding services related to international passengers and exports. They further warned that if the NBR Chairman is not removed by June 27, a non-stop, indefinite work stoppage will begin from June 28 in all offices under the Tax, Customs, and VAT departments. International passenger services will remain outside the purview of the shutdown. NBR staff continues protest against new ordinance and the chairman  Beginning June 28, the Council plans to launch a "March to NBR" campaign from tax offices across the country, demanding cancellation of the restructuring plan and sustainable reforms. The statement also issued a stern warning against any retaliatory action. “If any officer or employee—regardless of rank—is subjected to forced retirement, transfer, demotion, or any punitive measure for participating in the Council’s programmes, thousands of staff members in the Tax, Customs, and VAT departments will collectively resist,” it said.