NBR officials to continue protest, reject meeting with only finance adviser
They stated that they are no longer interested in meeting solely with the finance adviser unless other advisers of the interim government are also present
Protesting National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials said they will continue their ongoing "pen-down strike" tomorrow (19 May), and rejected meeting only with the finance adviser.
The protesting NBR officials continued their strike for the fourth day today, as part of their demand to revoke the recent ordinance that seeks to dissolve the NBR.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital's Agargaon today (18 May), the protesters, under the banner 'NBR Reform Unity Parishad', stated that they are no longer interested in meeting solely with the finance adviser unless other advisers of the interim government are also present.
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Moreover, they claimed that they have received no formal communication about any meeting with the finance adviser.
Sehela Siddiqua, additional commissioner of Taxes at NBR, said, "We have not received any official notification regarding a meeting with the finance adviser. We are open to attending discussions if other advisers are also present. Alternatively, we are willing to send a delegation if the chief adviser himself wishes to speak to us."
She further emphasised their position against dissolving the NBR, advocating instead for it to be restructured as an independent agency or board.
"Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has also questioned the ordinance and recommended forming an autonomous body instead of dissolving the NBR. We support that stance," she said.
Their key demands include the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Revenue Ordinance, public disclosure of the NBR Reform Advisory Committee's report and a comprehensive reform of the revenue system through meaningful consultations with stakeholders like NBR officials, business associations, civil society members and political leaders.
Earlier, NBR's Public Relations Officer Al Amin Sheikh informed journalists via a message that Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed intends to meet with the NBR officials at 3:30pm on Tuesday (20 May).
