Revenue officers stage demo for removal of Pangaon Customs joint commissioner

Revenue officers at different customs houses across the country on Tuesday demonstrated against an alleged misbehaviour of Joint Commissioner Lutful Kabir at Pangaon Customs House.  

Allegation had it that Lutful Kabir slapped revenue officer Bhavesh Chandra at his office a week ago.

Since then revenue officials have been demanding the removal and exemplary punishment to the joint commissioner.

Under the banner of Bangladesh Customs, Excise and VAT Executive Officers' Association (BACUEV), several hundred officers yesterday went for work abstention for three hours at their respective offices.

They also threatened to go for a full-day work stoppage on Thursday if their demand is not met shortly.

Picture: TBS

Leaders of the agitating Bangladesh Customs VAT and Executive Association said Lutful Kabir called Bhavesh Chandra and asked him to sign a faulty file.

When he refused to sign, the commissioner harassed him physically.

BACUEV leaders also alleged that the joint commissioner also committed a similar crime three years ago when he was at Dhaka West Commissionerate.

BACUEV member secretary Mohammad Mojibur Rahman said: "A message will go through this work abstention that our unity is intact. We are not protesting against the NBR or the Customs Department. We are staging the demonstration against an officer.''

''We will also continue this protest on Wednesday for five hours from 9am to 2pm. If the demand is not met, we will go for a full-day work stoppage on Thursday.''

However, Joint Commissioner Lutful Kabir could not be reached for comment regarding the allegation against him.

According to NBR sources, Pangaon Custom House formed a committee to investigate the misconduct of Joint Commissioner Lutful Kabir and already submitted a report in this regard to the NBR on Monday. The NBR has started taking action as per the report.

NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem urged the revenue officers not to stage demonstration and gave them assurance of taking action against Lutful. 

Earlier on Monday, BACUEV members also formed a human chain in front of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the capital's Segunbagicha area.