Officials and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have declared a three-day strike, protesting the government’s recent decision to dissolve the institution. Their demand: immediate repeal of the ordinance that calls for the abolition of the NBR and the creation of two new departments—Revenue Policy and Revenue Management.
The announcement came during a human chain and rally organized by the NBR Reform Unity Council in front of the NBR headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday, May 13.
The controversial ordinance was issued at midnight on Monday, nearly a month after it received approval from the Advisory Council on April 17. According to the ordinance, the NBR will be dismantled and replaced by two separate divisions under the Ministry of Finance, dividing responsibilities for policy and tax administration.
Members of the Income Tax and Customs Cadres have strongly objected to the ordinance and reiterated their call for its immediate withdrawal, expressing concern over the future of revenue professionals and the integrity of the tax administration system.
