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Abdur Rahman made new NBR chairman

Contracts of Munim, 9 others cancelled


FE REPORT | August 15, 2024 00:00:00


Abdur Rahman

Newly-appointed chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman has pledged to ensure smooth access to taxpayers in a bid to increase country's tax-GDP ratio.

Md Abdur Rahman Khan, who was Financial Institutions Division Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), got the appointment as the new chairman of the NBR on Wednesday.

Talking to the FE on Wednesday, Mr Rahman said both businesses are country's main drivers to generate employment and major contributors to the economy.

If businesses grow and can work without harassment, the government would be able to mobilise more revenue, he added.

"My priorities would be to increase country's tax-GDP ratio and salvage NBR from its 'image crisis'," he said.

The nation has given the opportunity to bring reform with the students' movement, which won't be missed at any chance, he added.

Taxmen would collect revenue without hurting businesses what Chanakya said "Collect taxes from a taxpayer just like a bee collects honey from flower without disturbing its petals."

He also assured of working closely with the media considering it an important part to mobilise domestic revenue.

"We will work together to increase country's tax-GDP ratio that is even poorer than that of Nepal," he said.

The public administration ministry issued a circular on Wednesday (14 August) appointing Rahman as the new NBR chief.

Earlier, the contractual appointments of National Board of Revenue Chairman Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim and nine other secretaries have been cancelled.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification regarding this decision on Wednesday.

The list of canceled contractual appointments includes, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim, Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat KM Abdus Salam, Secretary of the Road and Transport Department ABM Aminullah Nuri, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Mia, Senior Secretary of the Planning Division Satyajit Karmakar, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mokammel Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Begum Wahida Akhter, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Md. Ali Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, and Executive Member (Secretary) of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Md. Khairul Islam.

Tenure of Mr Muneem was scheduled to expire in 2026.

The Public Administration Ministry has relieved him from the position.

After fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, some of the officials and staff members of the NBR and a section of businessmen demanded resignation of Mr Muneem alleging harassment, corruption and authoritarian attitude.

However, some of the NBR high-ups expressed different opinions about such allegations and ruled out the charges of corruption.

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