Agitation broke out at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and its field offices on Wednesday, demanding arrest of its chairman for criminal offences and for harassing Dr Mohammad Yunus by abusing tax law.
The NBR officials said its chairman Abu Hena Mohammad Rahmatul Muneem unjustly harassed Dr Yunus to serve former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on August 5.
The officials, meanwhile, removed the NBR chairman's nameplate from the board. Sources said he sent a resignation letter to the Internal Resources Division (IRD) on Wednesday.
Officials and employees of different grades also demanded to free the NBR from the grip of admin cadre officials, who occupied positions in the organisation and humiliate and harass taxmen.
The NBR officials said they would issue an official statement on their demands and next actions today (Thursday). They decided to stage a demonstration on the NBR premises. They would send a memorandum to the new chief of the state soon.
In a visit to the NBR building in the city's Agargoan area on the day, the FE correspondent found that posters and banners regarding Mr Muneem's alleged misdeeds were installed by the aggrieved officials from income tax, customs and VAT wings.
They said Dr Yunus, the proposed chief adviser of the interim government, was victimised by the Awami League government due to personal vindication of Sheikh Hasina by using tax law unjustly.
Many senior officials alleged deprivation of due promotion following vindication of Mr Muneem.
They also demanded to keep the organisation free from administration cadre officials, and amend rules to allow the NBR members to lead the board.
"Outsiders will not be able to understand the fiscal measures to lead taxmen. Tax measures are highly technical, and expertise is needed to understand those," said a senior official of the NBR.
He also said two admin cadre officials accompanied the chairman to deprive and humiliate the tax and customs cadre officials.
First secretary of tax administration Md Shahiduzzaman and first secretary of customs and VAT administration Eidtajul Islam should be brought under punishment, officials demanded.
An official of the customs department said promotion of some officials had long been withheld and they were in current-charge positions for two-three years.
"Customs officials will not allow the chairman to flee without facing punishment," he added.
An income tax official alleged that those two officials of the admin cadre were involved in corruption and bribery in appointment and promotion of tax and customs officials.
They were also involved in money laundering, depriving the former officials from their retirement benefits.
Mr Muneem was appointed at the NBR on contractual terms and got extension for three consecutive terms, two years each.
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