Some protesters 'start apologising' to NBR chairman over recent unrest
NBR officials believe the gesture may help restore confidence and a constructive work environment
A section of officials from the National Board of Revenue, who had recently staged protests demanding the removal of the tax authority's chief, apologised to NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan this morning (8 July), admitting their "mistake" and expressing regret for their actions.
According to NBR officials, the majority of those who apologised were junior officers.
They believe this gesture may help ease some of the discomfort caused by the recent protests and the events that followed, and restore confidence among the officials in carrying out their duties.
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The development comes just days after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched investigations against several NBR officials.
During the same time, some officials were sent on forced retirement, while departmental actions were initiated against others for their involvement in recent protests.
Speaking to The Business Standard on condition of anonymity, a senior NBR official said, "Officials from the income tax cadre met the chairman in groups based on their batch. Most of them were from batches 29 to 40. They sought forgiveness for their involvement in the protest."
"We expect this will help restore discipline and a smooth working environment in the field offices," he added.
Another official, who was present during the meetings with the chairman, told TBS, "Around 60 officers from the income tax department met the chairman and sought forgiveness for their actions."
According to the official, the chairman responded by saying, "I have no problem forgiving you. But I do not have the authority to make decisions or grant forgiveness on matters related to the state."
Attempts to contact NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Three other tax officials contacted by TBS also declined to comment on the matter or confirm their participation in the meeting with the chairman.
What happened so far
Since the protests ended on 29 June, the ACC launched investigations against 11 senior NBR officials, including members and commissioners. On 3 July, the ACC launched probes against five more officials, including two commissioners.
Among them was NBR Reform Unity Council President Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar.
On 2 July, the government sent four senior officials of the NBR on forced retirement, a day after the suspension of the commissioner of Custom House, Chattogram (CHC) for allegedly disrupting customs operations by participating in the "complete shutdown" of NBR officials.
The protests began after the government issued an ordinance on 12 May dissolving both the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.
The NBR Reform Unity Council, opposing the move, staged a series of protest programmes, demanding structural reforms and the removal of the chairman, citing allegations of administrative irregularities, intimidation of officers, and obstruction of pro-reform efforts.
In early June, agitating officials organised work abstentions, hunger strikes, and human chains, disrupting services in tax, VAT, and customs offices across the country. Several discussions were also held with the finance adviser but were not fruitful.
Later, officials under the NBR Reform Unity Council banner, called for "complete shutdown" from 28 June and continued it the next day, demanding the immediate removal of the NBR chairman.
They had stated that while there would be a complete shutdown at all tax, customs, and VAT offices, international services would be exempt.
But on 29 June, protesting officials quickly withdrew their complete strike hours after the interim government announced revenue and customs jobs as "essential services" and warned of stern action if officials do not return to work.
