The National Board of Revenue (NBR) last Thursday put on hold an order, issued only three days back, transferring 27 of its income tax commissioners in one go.
A final decision on the transfer of these officials, according to sources, would be taken after due consultation with the appropriate authorities.
The tax commissioners who have completed two years or more in their respective places of work or got promotions were selected for transfer.
But reservation expressed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith about the transfer of so many tax officials at a time, sources said, has prompted the NBR to put on hold the order.
Mr. Muhith has taken exception to the transfer of so many tax officials at a time when the incumbent chairman of the NBR himself is due to end his contractual tenure in January next.
However, the finance minister admitted the fact that the authority to transfer of the NBR officials was vested in the chairman of the organisation. Yet he questioned the appropriateness of the order issued by the NBR chairman when he was due to leave office within a short period. Â
   Usually, the NBR transfers tax officials during October-November period after review of their performance on revenue collection.
   Sources said the NBR chairman despite being the lawful authority in the matters of appointment and transfer in his/her organisation, the practice is that he or she verbally discusses the major appointments/ transfers with the finance minister before issuing any order.
A senior tax official said according to the existing rules NBR chairman is empowered to transfer its officials through administrative order.
The board issued the transfer order after reviewing the performance of officials, allegation of irregularities, humanitarian and other issues.
There are some allegations against commissioners of a number of districts which the NBR have to investigate by transferring them to other zones, the official said.
Some vital post including Director General of the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) cannot remain vacant for longer period. In the recent order, the NBR transferred the tax officials who have been serving in important tax zones for long to other areas.
Three of NBR officials also got promotion recently. The NBR official said those who got promotion have been posted outside Dhaka. Only five to seven officials have been posted outside Dhaka in the order.
The official said it could be that some tax officials who have been affected by the transfer order might have lodged complaints with the finance minister.
Talking to the FE, the NBR chairman Ghulam Hussain regretted his decision to transfer the tax commissioners without having consultations with the finance minister.
"Usually, I obtain finance minister's permission on transfer and promotion of officials. But this time there was an error on my part due to substantial workload," he said.
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