NBR officials return to work

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials and employees returned to work on Monday after ending their movement, which included pen-down protests, sit-in demonstrations, and a two-day complete shutdown.

At around 9am, they resumed their duties at their respective offices. Regular operations at the revenue board are now underway.

The protests were staged to press home a number of demands, including the removal of the NBR chairman.

Besides, full activities resumed at all land ports and customs stations across the country, including Chattogram, Benapole, Dhaka customs house, Bhomra, Burimari, Sonamasjid, and Akhaura, following the withdrawal of the work abstention, bringing a sense of relief among all stakeholders.

The development has been particularly reassuring for businesses and policymakers.

Speaking to journalists at his office on Monday, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said, "Work has resumed in all our offices this morning. We have full attendance. All customs houses, inland container depots (ICDs), and VAT and tax offices are operational."

"The work is proceeding very well. There are no problems. Everything is normal so far," he added.

Addressing the officials, he said, "Let us put behind everything that has happened and move forward in the interest of the nation. We must complete the tasks at hand and work together. I hope we will not face such major disruptions again."

He further said, "Just as our revenue officers have worked with skills and dedication in the past, I believe they will continue to do so in the same manner."

"We are confident that revenue collection will exceed last year's figures. However, the past few days of work disruptions did have some impacts. Business was hampered, and so was revenue collection. But there is still time today, and our officers are making every effort."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun an investigation against six NBR officials for allegedly facilitating tax evasion in exchange for bribes.

The officials are NBR Member (Income Tax Policy) AKM Badiul Alam; Tax Zone-8 Additional Tax Commissioner Mirza Ashiq Rana; BCS Tax Academy Joint Tax Commissioner Mohammad Morshed Uddin Khan; Tax Zone-16 Deputy Tax Commissioner Monalisa Shahrin Sushmita; VAT Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate Additional Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Tarek Rikabder; and Customs, Excise & VAT Commissionerate's Dhaka (South) Additional Commissioner Sadhan Kumar Kundu.

Among them, Hasan Mohammad Tarek Rikabder is also the president of the NBR Reform Unity Council, the platform currently leading a movement seeking structural reforms of the board rather than its dissolution.

Regarding the investigation against the protesting NBR officials by the ACC, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said there has been no government interference in the commission's activities.

He made this statement at a press conference at the secretariat on Monday.

When asked whether the investigation against the six officials mirrored the actions of previous governments, he replied, "The Ministry of Finance does not give instructions in this regard. In the past, advisers often acted as representatives of the government, but that trend has changed."

The finance adviser acknowledged that people may question the timing of the investigation.

"Every day, I have received complaints from businesspeople regarding closed accounts and major losses due to the shutdown of NBR and port operations. This is absolutely unacceptable."

He emphasised that services related to national interests should never be halted.

"Whether it is the NBR or ports, these are not private properties. These are government institutions through which revenue is generated. If you unilaterally stop a service, it goes against the public interest," he said.

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