In the given chaotic situation at the National Board of Revenue, the interim government has decided to declare all services under NBR, particularly at customs houses, inland container depots, bond commissionerates, and customs stations, as ‘essential services’ under national interest to safeguard essential trade and foreign commerce.
In a statement shared by Shafiqul Alam, press secretary of the chief adviser on Sunday, the government urged all NBR officials and staff to return to their duties immediately and refrain from any unlawful, disruptive actions that threaten the nation’s economy.
The statement also warned that if non-compliance continues, the government would take strict measures to protect the rights of citizens and the stability of the national economy.
The statement said that the country’s weak revenue collection system was the biggest constraint to implementing development-oriented budgetary measures.
The revenue collection remains significantly lower than its actual needs, attributing this shortfall to systemic inefficiencies, irregularities, and widespread corruption within the revenue administration.
In response to the growing concerns and after consultations with key stakeholders, the government has decided to restructure the NBR.
The statement expressed deep concern over the unprecedented disruption caused by a section of NBR officials and employees over the past two months.
This disruption has severely affected business activities, import-export operations, and overall revenue collection—posing significant harm under the guise of protest, the statement added.
The statement termed such actions as unjustified, unethical, and completely unacceptable.
Beyond resisting reform efforts, these employees have significantly obstructed revenue collection during the final two months of the fiscal year.
Moreover, the government described the movement as ‘pre-planned and ill-motivated,’ saying it a direct affront to national interests and citizens’ rights.
The statement added that while the government had openly invited discussions and clearly expressed its willingness to address the employees’ demands, the protesters reportedly rejected these calls and chose instead a rigid, confrontational stance — continuing to inflict damage on the economy.
Meanwhile, a meeting with finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed was scheduled on Sunday afternoon with the protesting officials of the NBR.
Though, the finance adviser told the journalist on the same day that the meeting wouldn’t take place.
It is to mention that the NBR officials under NBR Reform Unity Council observed a complete shutdown and a March to NBR programme since Saturday demanding the removal of the NBR chairman.
Due to the shutdown, activities at all customs houses, including those in the Chattogram port and the Dhaka airport, and the collection services of value-added tax and income tax across the country came almost to a halt.
On Friday, the National Board of Revenue instructed its all officials and employees to attend their respective offices, saying the absence from duty without permission, leaving the office and reporting late to the office are considered as breaches of discipline and punishable offenses.
On the same day, the finance ministry issued a press release, saying that the government would sit in a meeting on July 1 with representatives of the protesting officials, the government-formed advisory committee on reforms, and the NBR members to review the ordinance that split the revenue board into Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division. However, the meeting is now at risk.
The NBR officials were on protest since April 29.
The interim government on May 12 promulgated the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance 2025 by dissolving the revenue board and splitting it into two divisions under the finance ministry to modernise the tax administration and boost revenue collection.
Since the issuance of the ordinance, the NBR officials held a series of sit-in, pen-down strike and non-cooperation to the NBR chairman in May and June.
After a meeting over the issue on June 26, finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed asked the protesting officials and employees of the National Board of Revenue to suspend their programme immediately.
The meeting was participated by finance secretary Khairuzzaman Mozumder, NBR chairman Abdur Rahman Khan and 167 members of the NBR.
However, representatives of the protesting employees did not participate in the meeting.