The government has issued a gazette on the amended ordinance that forms two divisions — the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division — in place of the National Board of Revenue.
The Bangladesh Government Press released the notification on its web site on Monday.
Earlier, on August 21, the cabinet approved the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, specifying that public officials having experience in the revenue and related areas would lead the two divisions created through the revenue sector overhaul.
The approval was given to the amended ordinance at a meeting of the council of advisers of the interim government.
According to the amended ordinance, government officials having experience in macro-economy, trade policies, planning, and revenue policy and management will be appointed as secretary to the Revenue Policy Division.
The amended ordinance also said that government officials having experience in revenue collection would be appointed as secretary to the Revenue Management Division.
The other significant amendments include experienced officials would be appointed to the posts in subdivisions dealing with income tax policy, double taxation avoidance agreements, international treaties and opinions, customs policy, value-added tax policy, and global trade and customs agreements.
The amended ordinance also added a subsection, stating that the posts in subdivisions of the Revenue Policy Division might be filled by officials or individuals experienced in public administration, economics, trade policy, research and statistics, audit and accounts, ICT applications and legislative drafting.
Earlier, on May 12, the government had issued the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025, splitting the National Board of Revenue with the aim of modernising the country’s revenue system amid poor revenue collection.
The ordinance had witnessed stiff protests, including sit-in, pen-down strike, and a ‘complete shutdown’ from revenue officials for nearly one and a half months since its issuance, which prompted the government to amend it.
The interim government also declared NBR services ‘essential’ on June 29, leading to the withdrawal of the officials’ protests.
In the aftermath of the protests, 32 NBR officials were suspended, four senior officials were sent into early retirement, and 16 officials were brought under the scrutiny of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Nearly 400 other officials faced transfers.
