Announcing a continuous program to cancel the transfer order and remove the NBR chairman

In a dramatic escalation of their protest, officials and employees from the Tax, Customs, and VAT departments under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have announced a complete shutdown of all NBR offices starting June 28, unless their demands are met. The demands include the cancellation of what they describe as vindictive transfer orders and the removal of the current NBR chairman.

Published At : Monday, 23 Jun 2025, 16:23

The announcement came during a press conference held at the NBR building in Agargaon on Monday, June 23. The NBR Reform Unity Council, which represents the protesting employees, also revealed a continuous program that will begin on Tuesday, June 24.

The protesting officials and employees stated that, from June 24, a sit-in program and pen strike will be observed at the Revenue Building in Dhaka from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., excluding international passenger services and exports. Simultaneously, similar protests will take place at NBR offices outside Dhaka. The council made it clear that if the retaliatory transfer orders are not canceled by June 27, and if any new oppressive transfer orders are issued, the protests will intensify. From June 25 to 26, the program will extend to a pen strike, sit-ins, and expressions of hatred against the chairman at all NBR offices, again excluding international passenger services and exports.

If these demands are still unmet by June 28, the council has threatened a complete shutdown of all NBR offices, excluding international passenger services, until further notice.

Additionally, the NBR Reform Unity Council announced that the planned seminar titled 'How Do We Want NBR' would not take place due to logistical and non-cooperation obstacles. Instead, they will present an outline of a people-friendly and service-oriented NBR, covering legal issues, institutional frameworks, automation, service delivery, integrity, and accountability, through a press briefing on July 7.

The officials' frustrations were largely directed at the current NBR chairman, whom they accuse of obstructing revenue reforms and undermining the NBR's institutional integrity. According to the protesting officials, the chairman is not only resisting reform efforts but is also responsible for destabilizing the country's revenue system through what they claim are unjust transfer orders.

The press conference also highlighted ongoing struggles regarding the allocation of meeting spaces within the Revenue Building. Despite multiple requests for room allocation to organize meetings with stakeholders, the NBR Reform Unity Council claims their requests were denied, with even submitted letters being discarded. The council members expressed concern that such actions were designed to provoke and hinder their reform efforts.

In the days leading up to the shutdown announcement, NBR officials were seen holding placards demanding an end to the "Slavery Act" and protesting what they called "farce in the name of transfer." These protests followed recent controversial reshuffles of five officers at the Excise Commissioner level in the Income Tax Department. The NBR Reform Unity Council has raised concerns that these moves were specifically aimed at quelling the ongoing protests.

The situation began to intensify after the government issued an ordinance on May 12 to divide the NBR into two, leading to sit-ins and pen strikes that continued until May 26. While the government later clarified that the NBR was not abolished but would be upgraded to an "independent and specialized" department, the NBR Reform Unity Council continues to demand the removal of the current chairman, claiming that any structural reforms under his leadership are unlikely to succeed.

As protests spread and tensions mount, it remains to be seen whether the government will address the council's demands or if the shutdown and protests will escalate further.