NBR officials escalate protest against ordinance 

Revenue officials intensified their protest against a government ordinance that would dismantle the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Internal Resources Division (IRD), replacing them with two separate entities for tax policy and revenue collection.

Under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, officials launched sit-in demonstrations at NBR offices in Dhaka and across the country today. The protests entered the seventh day, disrupting trade, business operations, and revenue administration.

Later in the day, representatives of the protesting officials planned to submit a memorandum to the chief adviser at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

The ordinance, which the government argues is intended to reduce conflicts of interest by separating policy formulation from implementation, has drawn fierce resistance from revenue officials. They say the proposed restructuring includes discriminatory provisions, most notably a clause allowing officials from the general administration cadre to head the new entities, sidelining career revenue officers.

In a statement, the NBR Reform Unity Council warned of a complete work abstention in all tax, customs, and VAT offices, excluding Customs Houses and Land Customs Stations, on May 24 and 25, from 9 am to 5 pm.

A full-scale strike in all revenue offices, with the exception of international passenger services, is set to begin on May 26 if the government does not respond to their demands.