A week after the withdrawal of protests on June 29, the National Board of Revenue remains enveloped into a state of unease and gloom.
Despite the cessation of the NBR Reform Unity Council鈥檚 protest movement, the uncomfortable aftermath continues to ring through the organisation, intensified by government actions such as suspensions, forced retirements, and the initiation of investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The government鈥檚 stern measures have led to widespread panic among NBR officials. Following the end of the protests, one official was suspended, four were forced into retirement, and ACC investigations were launched against 11 officials in two separate phases.
Many of these officials were forerunners in the protesting council.
Several NBR officials said that the ongoing investigations had led to a heightened sense of fear, with officials anxiously watching the developments, unsure whether they will face similar consequences.
During a recent visit to the NBR headquarters at Agargaon in the capital, it was observed that many officials were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigations.
Officials said that some of them were planning to meet with NBR chair Abdur Rahman Khan to seek a pardon.
鈥極n Monday, a representative from the tax cadre聽 attempted to meet with the NBR chair, but he had already left for the Dhaka Customs House,鈥� a mid-ranking official told 抖阴精品.
However, two customs commissioners had managed to meet him before he left the office, seeking leniency for their role during the protests that demanded the removal of the NBR chairman.
鈥業n general, I don鈥檛 see any reason for anyone to be afraid,鈥� the NBR chair told a press briefing at the Dhaka Customs House on Monday.
He, however, said that some individuals had crossed their limits significantly during the protests and they might face consequences.
A number of NBR employees said that the failure of the protests had significantly eroded the staff鈥檚 mutual trust in each other.
鈥業nternal communications, including WhatsApp and Telegram chats, leaked, further spreading mistrust among officials,鈥� said an NBR employee seeking anonymity.
Senior NBR officials revealed that there were two factions within the protest movement, one advocating for a sit-in and pen-down strike while the other pushed for a complete shutdown.
Ultimately, the shutdown backfired, with the government declaring the NBR services as 鈥榚ssential鈥� and enforcing stringent measures on June 29.
鈥業t was a mistake to go on a 61-day protest at the end of the financial year and shut the ports 鈥� the bloodline of the country鈥檚 economy -- was also a misstep,鈥� said a senior official linked to the protest.
The failure of the protests has left officials feeling morally down, with many at the upper mid-level eagerly awaiting their retirement.
Many senior officials, especially those involved in the protests, avoided the media, unwilling to speak publicly about their involvement.
Moreover, some were even seeking scholarship opportunities abroad as a means of escape.
Meanwhile, despite the panicky atmosphere, many officials continue to hope for a resolution.
鈥業 don鈥檛 think all accused officials are dishonest. I hope the NBR chairman will sit with us as we are a family,鈥� said an NBR official.
The NBR officials were on protest from April 29 against the split of the board into two divisions.
The interim government on May 12 promulgated the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance 2025 by dissolving the revenue board and creating two divisions to modernise the tax administration and boost revenue collection under the finance ministry.
However, the splitting resulted in strong resistance among NBR officials and they held a long consecutive pen-down strike, sit-in demonstration, non-cooperation programme.
Amid continued protests, the finance ministry issued a statement on May 25, announcing that it would amend the ordinance restructuring the NBR to strengthen the revenue board and separate revenue policy formulation activities by July 31.
They started drastic protest programmes like march to the NBR and a complete shutdown on June 28 and June 29, which disrupted the business operations and revenue collections across the country.
Amid the situation, the interim government decided to declare services under the NBR as 鈥榚ssential services鈥� in the country鈥檚 economic interest.
Then the protesting NBR staff withdrew their protest programmes after a series of meetings at different levels between the government and the businesses.
