Outgoing NBR chief decides to retire voluntarily
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
FE Report
The outgoing chairman of National Board Revenue (NBR) Badiur Rahman Monday decided to go on voluntary retirement 21 months before his retirement is due.
The immediate past NBR chairman disclosed his decision while transferring the charge to the new chief of the board Mohammad Abdul Majid.
On October 18, in a major reshuffle in the public administration, the government transferred the outgoing chairman to the food and disaster management ministry as its secretary and placed planning commission member Abdul Majid as the NBR chairman.
Badiur Rahman has submitted an application on the same day for one-month leave, as any civil servant opting for voluntary retirement has to give 30 days' notice.
"The government did not consult me prior to effecting my transfer to the ministry although such major posts deserve the honour," Rahman said adding that "newly appointed chairman Abdul Majid was informed about his transfer as the NBR chief."
"I could not accept the government's decision properly as it was not taken in a respectable manner," he lamented.
"I have declined to accept a number of recommendations made by the development partners like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)," he said.
Asked whether such difference of opinion with the policy makers and development partners were responsible for his transfer, he said: "It may have had some impact on my transfer."
When asked whether the tough actions under his authority as the NBR chief was responsible for a sluggish trend in business, he ruled out the allegation saying that he only followed the rules to realise tax.
"There is no specific allegation against me for creating a panicky situation among the businesses," he said.
"I think such move has created a tax culture among the grass-root people," he said.
Asked about his nine months' experience as the NBR chairman, he said: "There are some in-built problems in the NBR including lack of dedication on the part of all concerned and problems in income tax and customs departments as well."
Recently, the government also approved a summary to make the electronic cash register mandatory in businesses from July 1, 2008, Rahman said.
Badiur submitted three applications on October 18, the first one for sanction of arrears, the second for seeking one month's leave and the last one for voluntary retirement.
Badiur's voluntary retirement will be effective from November 22, after expiry of his one-month leave.
Responding to a question about influences of the joint forces on filing cases and searching bank accounts of different individuals suspected of corruption, Rahman said: "It is not an isolated matter and we have to collect information from all law enforcing agencies."
On procedures of filing cases, he said: "The NBR has implemented the government's decision."
It is not possible to carry out anti-corruption drive in a relaxed situation, he said.
"The NBR has to launch a move to achieve its target set for a fiscal," he said.
The outgoing chairman of National Board Revenue (NBR) Badiur Rahman Monday decided to go on voluntary retirement 21 months before his retirement is due.
The immediate past NBR chairman disclosed his decision while transferring the charge to the new chief of the board Mohammad Abdul Majid.
On October 18, in a major reshuffle in the public administration, the government transferred the outgoing chairman to the food and disaster management ministry as its secretary and placed planning commission member Abdul Majid as the NBR chairman.
Badiur Rahman has submitted an application on the same day for one-month leave, as any civil servant opting for voluntary retirement has to give 30 days' notice.
"The government did not consult me prior to effecting my transfer to the ministry although such major posts deserve the honour," Rahman said adding that "newly appointed chairman Abdul Majid was informed about his transfer as the NBR chief."
"I could not accept the government's decision properly as it was not taken in a respectable manner," he lamented.
"I have declined to accept a number of recommendations made by the development partners like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)," he said.
Asked whether such difference of opinion with the policy makers and development partners were responsible for his transfer, he said: "It may have had some impact on my transfer."
When asked whether the tough actions under his authority as the NBR chief was responsible for a sluggish trend in business, he ruled out the allegation saying that he only followed the rules to realise tax.
"There is no specific allegation against me for creating a panicky situation among the businesses," he said.
"I think such move has created a tax culture among the grass-root people," he said.
Asked about his nine months' experience as the NBR chairman, he said: "There are some in-built problems in the NBR including lack of dedication on the part of all concerned and problems in income tax and customs departments as well."
Recently, the government also approved a summary to make the electronic cash register mandatory in businesses from July 1, 2008, Rahman said.
Badiur submitted three applications on October 18, the first one for sanction of arrears, the second for seeking one month's leave and the last one for voluntary retirement.
Badiur's voluntary retirement will be effective from November 22, after expiry of his one-month leave.
Responding to a question about influences of the joint forces on filing cases and searching bank accounts of different individuals suspected of corruption, Rahman said: "It is not an isolated matter and we have to collect information from all law enforcing agencies."
On procedures of filing cases, he said: "The NBR has implemented the government's decision."
It is not possible to carry out anti-corruption drive in a relaxed situation, he said.
"The NBR has to launch a move to achieve its target set for a fiscal," he said.