Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
A crisis-resolution consultation between government advisers and the striking revenue officials Tuesday missed a consensus as the interim administration upheld the NBR-bifurcation ordinance under the ongoing reforms in Bangladesh.
Leading the government side at the discussion, sources said, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed didn't budge from his position on the newly proclaimed ordinance that stipulates the bifurcation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two separate divisions.
The custodian of exchequer in the post-uprising government, however, assured of addressing, "in greater national interest", the concerns of the revenue-board officials during the framing of rules or other regulations in implementing the ordinance
The ordinance is likely to take effect after the national budget, scheduled for rollout on June 2, 2025.
His comment came after the meeting at the Secretariat with the NBR officials who have been on a pen-down protest on demand that the ordinance, issued on May 12, be rescinded "immediately".
The finance adviser was accompanied by Energy Adviser Md Fouzul Kabir Khan and Environment Adviser Rizwana Hassan at the meeting with some 20 officials of the NBR, including commissioners, first secretaries and second secretaries.
Also present were former NBR members and members of the NBR-reform advisory committee assigned to the task of working out a recast of the revenue board -- one of the recommendations by the IMF.
A number of NBR officials aired their dissatisfaction after the closed-door meeting, claiming that they didn't get any space to explain the reason of their protest.
"We are in the same position as no developments or assurances came from the meeting," said one of the dissenting officials.
Talking to newsmen, the finance adviser reaffirmed his stance on the legal side and said there would be no further formal discussion with the protesting officers.
The advisory committee on NBR reform would talk to them and settle the issue.
"We have requested (them) to stop the protest," he said.
Replying to a query, the finance adviser categorically said, "It doesn't matter what NBR officials are saying or not.
"At implementation stage, we will try to address their concerns."
Meanwhile, hundreds of revenue officials from field-level offices massed on the NBR premises in Dhaka's Agargaon after the meeting with the advisers failed yield any remedies they want.
As such, the protesting officials said they would continue the protest until their demands are met. The protestors had suspended the move only for Tuesday expecting a solution in the meeting with advisers.
Their three major demands are immediate repeal of the ordinance on NBR bifurcation, making NBR- reform advisory committee's report public and initiating NBR reform through stakeholder discussions.
The pen-down strike in revenue offices countrywide affects national trade, import in particular, threatens cargo congestions at ports and also slows down revenue mobilisation close by the time of budget announcement.
doulotakter11@gmail.com