Agitating officials and staff members of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have made a three-point demanded including immediate cancellation of the gazette notification that bifurcated the NBR into two divisions.
Their other demands include making the report of the advisory committee on revenue system reforms public and bringing about a long-term and sustainable reform strategy in line with the advisory committee's report and the recently-released white paper on the country's economic situation.
The demands made were placed on Thursday at a press conference, arranged by the NBR Reform Alliance at the NBR premises during their 2nd day of protest.
The officials and staff of the defunct NBR launched a three-day "pen strike" programme, a day after the government issued gazette notification on NBR split.
The agitating staffers also strengthened to go for greater movement unless their demands are met.
Leaders of the alliance told the press conference that the reforms process must be inclusive, with active participation of all stakeholders concerned, including professional bodies, business communities, civil society, and political leaders.
Sefat-e-Mariam, Additional Commissioner and Md Mustafizur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of the NBR presented written speech at the press conference on behalf of the alliance.
NBR Deputy Commissioner Ninup Chakma also responded to questions from journalists at the event.
"We want a corruption-free, balanced, and people-friendly revenue system, which will be free from harassments," said Sefat-e-Mariam.
She also stressed the need for full automation of the revenue administration, sustainable investment for developing human resources, and enhanced structural and technical capacities of specialised NBR wings, including the Research and Statistics Wings.
She said the structural reforms of the NBR are essential and timely-befitting, but such reforms must be pragmatic-grounded in the views of all stakeholders and built upon a proper assessment of the skills and experience of NBR officials and staff.
"The recently issued ordinance has not only undermined the country's economic structures, but also posed a serious threat to national interests," she said.
"We are not against NBR reforms," Md Mustafizur Rahman said, adding that instead of publishing the advisory committee's report, the government hastily issued an ordinance late at night.
As announced previously, the pen-down strike will continue until Saturday (May 17), he said.
Officials from all tiers of the NBR took part their pen-strike programme to press home their demands for the second consecutive day.
As a result, official activities at the NBR came to a standstill during the agitation.
Service-seekers at various VAT and tax offices were to face problems due to the suspension of regular official activities.
However, activities related to the formulation of the national budget for the next fiscal year, services for international passengers, and export operations continued as usual, as previously announced.
Meanwhile, although NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan called a press briefing, did not address the media eventually.
Although journalists were invited by the NBR's public relations department, no explanation was given for the cancellation of the briefing.
jahid.rn@gmail.com
