Unease continues at NBR as 9 more senior officials suspended
Earlier, 21 other officials had already been suspended, while five were sent on forced retirement
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday suspended nine more senior officials on charges of "obstructing official duties" during protests staged by tax officials in June, bringing the total number of suspended officers to 30.
The latest suspension order, signed by Abdur Rahman Khan, secretary of the Internal Resources Division (IRD) and chairman of the NBR, said it was issued under Section 39(1) of the Government Service Act, 2018.
Fear and unease continue to prevail among NBR officials due to the frequent transfers and suspensions. The suspensions, in particular, have fueled anxiety over who might be targeted next, according to field-level officials.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Md Farid Uddin, a former NBR member and member of the NBR reform committee, told The Business Standard, "If such punitive actions are taken repeatedly, officials become demotivated. However, the officers should also have considered the consequences of their actions."
TBS also tried to contact at least five officials involved in the protests. One officer, who was among those suspended yesterday, spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Suspending us after so many weeks has created fresh panic among officials," he said. "We had assumed that after some initial transfers and disciplinary actions, the situation would settle down. But now, after nine more suspensions, everyone is worried about whose name might come up next."
He said continued punitive measures could hurt government revenue collection.
Another official claimed that, beyond the nine suspended, a further list of 10 names has already been prepared, and they too may soon face suspension.
The suspended officials include AAM Amimul Ehsan Khan, additional commissioner of Mongla Customs House; Sadhan Kumar Kundu, additional commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Sylhet; Sanowarul Kabir, joint commissioner of Chattogram Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy; Saidul Islam, deputy commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Khulna; Sehela Siddiqua, additional commissioner and secretary general of NBR Reform Unity Council; Sultana Habib, additional commissioner of taxes; Mesbah Uddin Khan; Joint Commissioners Mamun Miah and Chand Sultana Chowdhurani.
Earlier, 21 other officials had already been suspended, while five were sent on forced retirement.
According to the suspension order, following the government's issuance of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Administration Ordinance on 12 May, employees of the NBR Customs, Excise and VAT, and Income Tax departments, while conducting protest programmes, obstructed official duties of on-duty staff.
"In addition, by playing the role of organisers to force employees to leave work and come to the Revenue Building [during the movement], the country's import-export activities have been disrupted," the order stated.
Earlier in May and June, NBR officials had staged two phases of protests against the government's decision to restructure the board under the new ordinance. They alleged that, under the guise of splitting the NBR, its authority was being strategically shifted to the Administration Cadre.
On 28 and 29 June, port operations were brought to a halt, causing severe disruption to trade. However, the protests were called off after the government took a hardline stance.
Since then, the finance ministry and current NBR management have pursued disciplinary measures against officials identified as playing leading roles in the movement.
