Upgradation of NBR members as secy to boost revenue collection

The government's latest decision on promotion of four members of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) as 'Secretary' would expedite decision making process on tax issues and strengthen revenue administration, officials said.
The NBR members got the promotion to Grade-I as Secretary in a recent order issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on July 31 last.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave her consent to promote the officials including 26 other officials of different departments.
Of the Secretaries, two are from Customs cadre -- Md Farid Uddin and Jaharana Siddiqui and two from tax cadre -- Syed Aminul Karim and Md Alauddin.
The position of NBR members are ex-officio Additional Secretary. It is the highest position in the board. The government took the decision for the first time to promote NBR members as Secretary. There are 16 members in the NBR. OF them, four recently got the promotion.
NBR chairman, who is also secretary to the Internal Resources Division (IRD), was the only Secretary in the NBR.
Officials in the public administration ministry said the government can transfer the new Secretaries to other ministries too.
NBR officials said the NBR members often felt neglected in different forums and international negotiations as officials holding similar position in other countries, especially in neigbouring India, enjoying 'Special Secretary' status.
The NBR members have long been urging the government to upgrade their status and create a scope for promotion to get rid of frustration.