The country鈥檚 businesses on Saturday urged the interim government to take immediate measures to resolve the crisis at the National Board of Revenue amid the ongoing protests by its officials.
They said that a complete halt to the revenue board鈥檚 operations was hurting the country鈥檚 import and export activities.
The tax officials under the banner of NBR Reform Unity Council has been protesting for weeks to press their demands, including amending the ordinance that split the revenue board into two divisions and the removal of the NBR chairman.
At a press conference organised by the country鈥檚 major trade bodies in the capital Dhaka on Saturday, the businesses also urged both the government and the protesters to hold discussions to resolve the crisis without halting customs activities as such a stoppage would severely disrupt the country鈥檚 $65 billion trade, which is heavily reliant on export and import activities.
Expressing serious concern, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that the government had failed to fully grasp the gravity of the crisis caused by the current stalemate.
He also said that this chaos needed to be resolved by today.
鈥楢 complete shutdown of operations has been disrupting import and export activities worth approximately Tk聽2,500 crore each day. We are in the risk of losing work orders from international clothing retailers and brands as we cannot release goods from the ports because of the strike,鈥� he added.
The businesses also observed that they were in favour of reforming the NBR, but also opined that the demand for the removal of the NBR chairman was not acceptable.
They also said that they were already struggling due to economic pressure from both domestic and international sources, and this added disruption could push many into the verge.
Syed Nasim Manjur, president of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, said that both parties must hold discussions to resolve the stalemate.
鈥楥ustoms houses of a country couldn鈥檛 be non-operational except wartime. The solution to reform-related issues usually comes through discussions, not through protests or blockades,鈥� he said.
Interaction between the government and the private sector is always important and the responsibility to maintain a business-friendly environment lies with governmental decisions, Nasim said.
Mahbubur Rahman, president of the International Chamber of Commerce, stated that the relevant ministries and departments must engage in discussions with the protesting NBR officers and employees.
He also urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the just and fair protection of the future of the protesting officers and employees, and to prevent further damage to the country鈥檚 economy.
In a statement, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries president Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) said that without wasting any time, it was essential that the finance ministry, the commerce ministry and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority under the leadership of the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office would hold discussions with the protesting officials to resolve the crisis.
He also called on the protesting officials to return to work without any conditions.
Reform always brings something new, but the businesses should not face damage due to the reforms, he said.
The businesses also stated that due to the NBR officials鈥� protests, they were the worst sufferers.
Representatives from 16 trade bodies across various sectors, including garments, knitwear, textiles, leather goods, plastic goods, accessories, packaging and ceramics, and a number of chambers, were present at the briefing.
