Dissolution of NBR: Employees announce three-day pen-down strike
As per the announcement, the protesters will continue work related to airway passengers, exports, and the upcoming budget during the strike period. All other tasks, however, will remain suspended
A group of now-dissolved National Board of Revenue (NBR) employees has announced a pen-down strike on 14, 15, and 17 May in protest of the organisation's dissolution.
Sadhan Kumar Kundu, additional customs commissioner and a representative of the protesters, announced the time and date of the strike during a demonstration in front of the NBR headquarters today (13 May) under the banner of NBR Sangskar Oikya Parishad.
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As per the announcement, the protesters will continue work related to airway passengers, exports, and the upcoming budget during the strike period. All other tasks, however, will remain suspended.
Sadhan said the strike will continue from 10am-1pm on 14 May. On 15 and 17 May, they will observe the strike from 10am-3pm.
They urged the government to consider the NBR Reform Commission's recommendations and talk to the stakeholders.
The NBR was dissolved by the interim government through an ordinance. Customs and tax officials have condemned the move, saying the report of the Advisory Committee on Revenue Reforms regarding the revenue board was not accepted by the government.
They also alleged that the government did not consult with stakeholders before making the decision.
As of the filing of this report at 5:00pm, the NBR Sangskar Oikya Parishad is holding a sit-in programme in front of the NBR HQ demanding the cancellation of the ordinance that dissolved the revenue board.
At around 4:10pm,NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan was seen leaving the building and getting into his car amid the sit-in programme by protesters. The protesters at the time were heard chanting slogans against the NBR chairman.
Speaking at the programme, Monalisa Shahrin Sushmita, joint commissioner of taxes, complained that the ordinance was issued at night without taking into account the recommendations of the Reform Advisory Committee. If it is implemented, experienced and skilled people in the revenue system will not be valued properly.
Earlier last night (12 May), President Shahabuddin promulgated an ordinance abolishing the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and creating two separate entities — the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.
Officials from the Customs and Income Tax cadres of the NBR have expressed strong opposition to this ordinance. They believe that, instead of ensuring the independence of revenue policy and management, the ordinance effectively transfers the authority and power of the NBR to officials of the Administration cadre.
Customs and tax officials have been protesting the ordinance since its draft stage.
However, the government has issued it without making any significant changes to the original draft.
