NBR staff call off protest as govt goes tough

Highlights:

• Govt declares all NBR jobs as essential services
• Officials warned of strict action if they don't return to work
• Nationwide shutdown halts customs, VAT, and tax services
• Protests sparked by May ordinance dissolving NBR
• Protesters demand NBR chairman's resignation

The two-day stalemate at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) ended tonight (29 June) as protesting officials 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.

The government's tough stance followed as revenue and customs officials continued their strike, kept offices shut and suspended customs clearance at ports, bringing export-import trades to a total halt for the second day. 

Sehela Siddiqua, secretary general of NBR Reform Unity Council, told The Business Standard this evening that their movement has been withdrawn.

Customs officials resumed export activities at the Chattogram Port soon after the withdrawal of the strike, Chattogram C&F Agents Association President SM Saiful Alam told the TBS Sunday night. All activities including import goods deliveries will resume Monday morning, he added.

Officials and employees protesting under the banner of NBR Reform Unity Council have been observing their "complete shutdown" programme since Saturday, demanding structural reforms of the NBR and the resignation of its chairman.

Their protests began last month after the government issued an ordinance on 12 May dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.

Due to the "complete shutdown", all customs, VAT, and income tax services across the country, except international passenger service, have been suspended. Import and export operations, particularly at major hubs like Chattogram Customs House, came to an abrupt halt.

Earlier on the day, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed refused to have a meeting with protesting officers. "If the officials wish to continue their shutdown program, they may do so," an angry finance adviser told reporters at the ministry. 

Top business leaders in Dhaka sounded the alarm on Saturday saying the customs shutdown was inflicting daily disruption to export-import activities valued at a staggering Tk2,500 crore, threatening the collapse of smaller businesses and significant losses of crucial export orders. 

The community expressed their deep frustration and urged immediate government intervention.

Customs now an 'essential service'

Amid the "complete shutdown" programme of NBR officials, the interim government has decided to declare all categories of jobs under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) — including customs houses, ICDs, bond commissionerates, and all customs stations — as "essential services" and warned of stern action if officials do not return to work.

The decision was taken in the interest of ensuring uninterrupted import-export and foreign trade operations, the government said in a statement today.

"Officials and employees should return to work immediately and refrain from illegal and destructive activities against national interests. Otherwise, the government will be forced to take strict action to protect the people and the economy of the country," reads the statement.

Under the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 and the Essential Services (Second) Ordinance, 1958, a shutdown of services deemed essential can be banned. The law allows the government to declare certain jobs as essential, and prohibits actions that would disrupt essential services, such as strikes, lockouts, or layoffs.

In the statement, the government said Bangladesh's biggest challenge in implementing development-oriented budgetary activities is the weak revenue collection structure. "The amount of revenue collected remains significantly lower than the state's requirements, primarily due to inefficiencies, irregularities and corruption within the revenue collection system."

The government expressed deep concern over attempts by a "section of NBR officials and employees" to obstruct the ongoing revenue reforms.

"For the past two months, in the guise of a movement, they have severely disrupted trade, imports, exports and revenue collection activities, causing widespread public suffering. Such actions are entirely unacceptable," reads the statement.

The statement further mentions that beyond resisting reforms, the agitating officials have seriously hampered revenue collection during the last two months of the fiscal year. "This so-called movement is pre-planned and ill-intentioned, posing a direct threat to national interests and the rights of citizens."

The government reiterated that it had made clear announcements to consider the demands of NBR officials and called for dialogue to resolve the crisis.

"They, however, rejected this offer and have continued to harm the economy with their rigid stance under the banner of a movement, rather than seeking an acceptable solution through discussions," adds the statement.