Govt working to fulfil 3 responsibilities - election, some reforms, outlining sectoral reform: Salehuddin

The main responsibilities of the interim government are three - giving election, making some reforms not like long-term reforms, rather giving outline for reforms in the sectors like banking, National Board of Revenue (NBR), and in police administration, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has said.

"The most important priority is holding the trial for the crimes against humanity. But, we can't hold trials like kangaroo courts," the adviser said in an interview with the BSS at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat.

He also highlighted the salient features of the upcoming national budget to be announced on 2 June, which would also be the first of its kind for the interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

When asked to explain the current political context, Salehuddin said that they are trying their best to deliver a national election.

Earlier, he said, people were not able to exercise their voting rights during the deposed regime since there were concerns over the law and order situation.

"We're trying to ensure that such things do not recur. All the political parties want a good election. If everyone behaves democratically, even exercise of democracy is needed within the party," he added.

The finance adviser said the most important thing is to have consensus among the politicians. "We're hopeful that the administration, law and order enforcement agencies and the system remain well during the election,"

He went on saying, "We're hopeful that a roadmap for election will be given," adding that the Chief Adviser has already indicated that the next national election would be held in between December, 2025 to June 2026.

About the indiscriminate movements by various quarters like staging sit-in programmes raising various demands, Salehuddin said these often hamper daily work.

He said such things could not take place during the previous regime since those were suppressed. "But, now such things have become a bit difficult for us," he said.

Mentioning that the government is unlikely to backtrack from its commitment to separate the NBR, he said, adding that they would sort out the rational problems raised by the revenue board staff.

When asked about the possible dearness allowance in the next budget, he said the government would look into the matter. "If it is announced, then the government will have to deliver it. We'll consider how much we can give as per their full expectations."

Regarding the reforms of NBR, the finance adviser said the decision to separate the NBR in two entities was necessary since there was no alternative for separating the revenue board.

"One entity can't pursue policy (revenue) and its implementation at a time. It doesn't exist elsewhere in the country," he said.

Regarding the complexities arising out of the separation of the NBR, the Finance Adviser said that there was no alternative to going for separating the revenue board.

"We've separated the NBR and thus formed the revenue policy division and the revenue management division while it was necessary in principle," he said.

Meanwhile, amid reservations from the countrywide NBR officials and employees, the government in a statement last week said that there is no possibility of dissolving the NBR right at this moment since it is very much time-consuming to implement the recently promulgated "Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordnance 2025" after necessary amendments.

"Under the current circumstances, all the operations of the NBR will continue like in the past," said a press release of the Ministry of Finance.

The adviser said the Policy Division would be small where competent manpower in the tax regime would be there alongside economists, statisticians who would carry out the works of analysis and forecasting, considering the socio-economic condition of the country.

"We're not dissolving the operations of the revenue system rather its work would be carried out through the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Division," he said.

The ordinance was promulgated in principle, but there was nothing in detail, he said, adding that the manpower, organogram, and norms related to it are yet to be specified.

He said they have told the NBR staff that everything would be finalised through discussions with them while no injustice would be done to anyone, rather justice would be ensured.

He said move for dividing the NBR was taken back in 2008, but it is now taking long 17 years to separate the revenue board.

The finance adviser said an advisory committee was also formed for NBR reforms, but it was the government to decide to what extent the suggestions would be taken.

He said any law is enacted or any ordinance is promulgated for the sake of the country's interests while many experts both from home and abroad also gave their valuable suggestions on the NBR reforms.

Asked whether the NBR has been separated through ordinance following the IMF's conditions, he said they had discussions with the IMF more on the issue of making the foreign exchange rate to market-based.

He said the government itself had felt that the revenue board should have to be separated let alone suggestions from the development partners like the IMF and the World Bank.

The recent finance ministry press release also mentioned that the officials and employees of the income tax and customs would conduct their overall operations under the existing system.

Besides, necessary amendments to the ordinance would be brought after consultations with the NBR and all important stakeholders to frame the administrative structure of separation of the revenue board upholding the interests of the BCS (tax) and BCS (customs and VAT) cadre.