Protesting NBR officials to continue shutdown tomorrow
NBR Reform Unity Parishad seeks intervention from chief adviser
Protesting officials under the banner of NBR Reform Unity Parishad have announced that their ongoing "Complete Shutdown" and "March to NBR" programmes will continue tomorrow (29 June), demanding structural reforms of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the resignation of its chairman.
The announcement came this afternoon (28 June) from the parishad's Secretary General Sehela Siddika, as she concluded today's protest activities in front of the NBR headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon.
She urged all participants to gather in front of the NBR headquarters by 10am tomorrow to continue their movement.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Today's protest programmes began in the morning with several hundred officials from the NBR headquarters, as well as from various tax, VAT, and customs offices in Dhaka, gathering at the NBR headquarters. Security forces, including members of the army and police, were deployed at the spot throughout the day.
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, have come to a halt.
Sources from Chattogram Customs confirmed that no officers are currently performing their duties and that all departments are inactive. The Chattogram C&F Agents Association's Customs Affairs Secretary Rezaul Karim Swapan told TBS that operations had been completely suspended and C&F agents were informed in advance not to attend work.
Similarly, a Dhaka Customs House officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that only international passenger services remain functional, in line with prior announcements from the protesters.
In a press conference held in the afternoon, NBR Reform Unity Parishad President Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar stated that meaningful reform of the revenue sector is not possible under the current NBR chairman, Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem. "He must be removed to ensure full, practical, and sustainable reform of the revenue system," he said, adding, "There is no alternative."
The protest programmes, including the complete shutdown, will continue until their demands are met, he added. However, international passenger services remain outside the scope of the shutdown. Peaceful marches toward the NBR headquarters will be organised tomorrow from all tax, customs, and VAT offices across the country.
Rikabdar said the unity parishad is ready to sit for discussions with the finance adviser at any time. He also urged the chief adviser to intervene in the greater national interest.
He criticised the recently formed six-member committee for revenue ordinance reform, saying it excluded representatives from the NBR Reform Unity Council. He further alleged that the NBR chairman is questioning the legitimacy of the movement and delivering provocative statements.
He also accused the chairman of retaliatory transfers, stating that five protesting officers have been reassigned outside Dhaka as "punishment".
