The government has suspended eight officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for publicly tearing up their transfer orders in protest, despite earlier assurances that no punitive action would be taken if the ongoing movement was withdrawn.
The decision, formalized on Tuesday, was signed by Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, Secretary of the Internal Resources Division and Chairman of the NBR.
According to the suspension orders, the eight officials displayed gross insubordination and arrogance by openly defying the transfer order issued on June 22.
As a result, they have been attached to the NBR as Officers on Special Duty (OSD) and suspended under Section 39(1) of the Government Servants Act, 2018. During their suspension, they will be entitled to subsistence allowances as per government rules.
The suspended officials include joint and deputy tax commissioners from various tax zones, such as Dhaka, Kushtia, Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar, Khulna, Rangpur, and Cumilla.
The official documents stated that their actions not only violated administrative norms but also encouraged further defiance among their peers, warranting a formal departmental investigation.
The unrest within the NBR began on May 12 when the government announced a major restructuring of the revenue board, dividing it into two new wings: Revenue Policy and Revenue Administration.
This move triggered discontent among officials, leading to pen-down strikes and demonstrations. In an attempt to reassert control, the NBR issued transfer orders for several officials on June 22, instructing them to join new posts by June 24.
Instead, a group of officers rejected the order and held a press conference in front of the NBR headquarters, where they publicly tore up the documents in protest.
Following disruptions to customs operations and import-export activities, business leaders mediated with the government, resulting in an announcement on June 29 that no disciplinary action would be taken against the protesting officers.
This led to a temporary withdrawal of the movement. However, the government has since initiated multiple punitive actions, including the compulsory retirement of three NBR members and one commissioner, the suspension of Chattogram Customs Commissioner, and the launch of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) probes against 16 other officials.
Commenting on the situation on July 9, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan stated that while he had forgiven those who protested against him personally, those who challenged the authority of the state would be judged differently. “The state will decide whether to forgive them or not,” he said.
