NBR seeks CA's intervention to overcome manpower problem
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Doulot Akter Mala
The revenue board has sought the Chief Adviser's (CA) intervention in removing all hurdles to fresh recruitment of customs and VAT (value added tax) officials.
Expressing deep concern over the prevailing situation, the board officials said that the customs and VAT department will be almost empty within next three-four years if the issue of new appointments is not resolved on an urgent basis.
"Overall revenue collection is largely dependant on these two departments. Acute manpower shortage will pose a serious threat to achieving the revenue target set for the current fiscal," a senior official of NBR told the FE Saturday.
In the current fiscal, the government has estimated 75 per cent of the Tk 545 billion revenue earning budget to be collected by customs and VAT departments.
"It will be a tough job to achieve the revenue target with the existing manpower while import revenue is already affected by global economic meltdown," he said.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has requested the CA to form a committee that will conduct a timely 'need-based' assessment of the revenue collectors, he said.
The NBR recently sent the proposal to the CA seeking his consent on forming the body comprising establishment ministry, finance department, NBR and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
"The proposed committee will submit a report with its recommendations after scrutinizing organization, organogram and equipment after a certain period," the NBR proposal to the CA said.
The customs and Vat department is operating with 37 per cent of posts remaining vacant. Every month more than 10-12 officials are going on retirement.
"There are only 4786 officials in 20 customs and VAT offices while the government had approved the recruitment of 7564 officials in an organogram framed in the 1990's," the proposal said.
The workload of those departments has increased significantly with the expansion of trade activities. Even the said organogram is insufficient for running the activities properly, it said.
Except for three top posts--- commissioner, additional commissioner and joint commissioner--- there is acute manpower shortage in all the other subordinate posts, the proposal said.
"The government is facing manpower shortage on some posts including inspectors, appraisers, preventive officers, intelligence officer, super/principle appraiser, deputy commissioners. Since 1984, the fresh recruitment in some posts remained suspended due to court cases," it said.
Non-cooperation of the establishment ministry was also a major reason against the recent complexities on fresh recruitment, the NBR said in the proposal.
"There will be acute manpower crisis in super/principle appraiser posts by next three-four years. Presently, there are 412 supers in those departments. Of them, 10-15 officials are going on retirement every month," it said.
In the proposal, the NBR made a plea to resolve writ petitions and component cases as soon as possible for enabling appointment of fresh officials for those vacant posts.
The revenue board has sought the Chief Adviser's (CA) intervention in removing all hurdles to fresh recruitment of customs and VAT (value added tax) officials.
Expressing deep concern over the prevailing situation, the board officials said that the customs and VAT department will be almost empty within next three-four years if the issue of new appointments is not resolved on an urgent basis.
"Overall revenue collection is largely dependant on these two departments. Acute manpower shortage will pose a serious threat to achieving the revenue target set for the current fiscal," a senior official of NBR told the FE Saturday.
In the current fiscal, the government has estimated 75 per cent of the Tk 545 billion revenue earning budget to be collected by customs and VAT departments.
"It will be a tough job to achieve the revenue target with the existing manpower while import revenue is already affected by global economic meltdown," he said.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has requested the CA to form a committee that will conduct a timely 'need-based' assessment of the revenue collectors, he said.
The NBR recently sent the proposal to the CA seeking his consent on forming the body comprising establishment ministry, finance department, NBR and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
"The proposed committee will submit a report with its recommendations after scrutinizing organization, organogram and equipment after a certain period," the NBR proposal to the CA said.
The customs and Vat department is operating with 37 per cent of posts remaining vacant. Every month more than 10-12 officials are going on retirement.
"There are only 4786 officials in 20 customs and VAT offices while the government had approved the recruitment of 7564 officials in an organogram framed in the 1990's," the proposal said.
The workload of those departments has increased significantly with the expansion of trade activities. Even the said organogram is insufficient for running the activities properly, it said.
Except for three top posts--- commissioner, additional commissioner and joint commissioner--- there is acute manpower shortage in all the other subordinate posts, the proposal said.
"The government is facing manpower shortage on some posts including inspectors, appraisers, preventive officers, intelligence officer, super/principle appraiser, deputy commissioners. Since 1984, the fresh recruitment in some posts remained suspended due to court cases," it said.
Non-cooperation of the establishment ministry was also a major reason against the recent complexities on fresh recruitment, the NBR said in the proposal.
"There will be acute manpower crisis in super/principle appraiser posts by next three-four years. Presently, there are 412 supers in those departments. Of them, 10-15 officials are going on retirement every month," it said.
In the proposal, the NBR made a plea to resolve writ petitions and component cases as soon as possible for enabling appointment of fresh officials for those vacant posts.