NBR officers should captain revenue authority, businesses tell finance adviser

Business leaders have voiced clear support for the National Board of Revenue (NBR) reform move by separating its revenue policy from management, but emphasised that leadership of both the divisions should come from customs and tax cadres, not from administration or any other service.

They conveyed this position to Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed during a meeting on Sunday. Two business leaders present at the meeting confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.

Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, told TBS, "We do not agree with the demand for the removal of the current NBR chairman. But since revenue matters are technical, the leadership needs to have technical expertise.

"We've made it clear to the adviser that the administration cadre should not lead the NBR."

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), who also attended the meeting, told TBS, "Technical matters – such as those handled by the NBR – should be managed by technically knowledgeable officers. I made that point."

A business leader who requested anonymity said the issue stemmed from the involvement of administration cadre officials in the new reform structure.

Previously, the NBR Reform Committee, led by former NBR chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, had submitted a report recommending the separation of policy and implementation, with leadership of both divisions coming from within NBR's own cadres.

Ehsan added, "We will review the reform report submitted by the NBR Reform Committee and give it due importance."

Business leaders believe the growing gap between the finance adviser and NBR officers – before and after the reform ordinance – was largely due to miscommunication.

Parvez said, "Some vested group was involved here."

Ehsan noted, "After speaking with both sides, it is clear that there was a major communication gap between the finance adviser and the protesting officers. The adviser should have spoken directly with them."

They also pointed out that, while earlier it was only the finance ministry and the protesting NBR officials negotiating over reforms, business leaders have now become a third stakeholder, making it harder to move forward without their involvement.

However, the five-member advisory committee formed to review reforms reportedly does not include revising the ordinance in its terms of reference. NBR officers protesting the current reform plans have raised this concern with business leaders.

Parvez commented, "Regardless of the content, a solution must be reached."

NBR seeks list of absent officers

Meanwhile, NBR has sent letters to offices requesting the names of officers who were absent from their workstations during the full shutdown observed on Saturday and Sunday.

A commissioner of one customs house confirmed this to TBS on condition of anonymity.

However, several business leaders fear this move could reignite tensions at a time when stakeholders are trying to de-escalate the situation.

Ehsan asked, "Was it really necessary to issue this letter today?"

Ironically, on the same day, the NBR chairman called on all field-level officers to forget past differences and focus on their responsibilities.