A large number of revenue officials and employees from across the country gathered in front of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) headquarters in Dhaka today to launch the ‘March to NBR’ program, demanding the removal of the NBR chairman and reform of the revenue sector with participation from all stakeholders.
In response to the protest, law enforcement agencies including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Coast Guard sealed off the NBR’s main gate and took position inside the building.
Additional riot control measures have been deployed around the premises, including water cannons and riot control vehicles.
Protesting officials allege that the NBR chairman is spreading misinformation instead of addressing core issues. As part of the protest, a countrywide shutdown has also begun in all customs and tax offices.
One NBR official stated that law enforcement is not allowing anyone to enter or exit the NBR headquarters, effectively locking down the building from both sides.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance held a meeting on Thursday in an attempt to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Three key decisions were made: a directive to withdraw the declared protest programs, a review of recent transfer orders that were deemed repressive, and the arrangement of a tripartite meeting scheduled for next Tuesday.
However, the protesting officials and employees have defied the instructions and continued with the March to NBR demonstration.
Leaders of the NBR Reform Unity Council, which is spearheading the movement, declared the nationwide march during a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
Council president Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar stated that “at this point, there is no alternative to removing the NBR chairman.
We support reforms, but they must involve the opinions of all stakeholders. The oppressive transfer orders must be revoked.”
The movement stems from government-initiated changes to the revenue administration. On May 12, an ordinance was issued dissolving the National Board of Revenue and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with two new departments—Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Administration Division.
Since then, officials under the NBR Reform Unity Council have been staging various programs in protest.
