NBR officials return to work after week-long protest

Employees at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have returned to work after a week-long pen-down protest, sit-in demonstrations and two days of a “complete shutdown” programme to press for a number of demands, including the removal of the agency’s chairman.

NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said that employees at all tax, VAT and custom houses in the country had returned to work on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.

He said, "I am getting the news through you (the media), and through the business community that all custom houses are operational. The work is proceeding very well. There are no problems.”

"The NBR has also returned to work. Everything is normal so far."

Amid drama and a flurry of activity, the NBR Reform Unity Council – a platform for the protesters – called off the shutdown shortly before 10:00 pm on Sunday after business leaders met with Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Advisor's Office had issued a statement warning of “severe” action if tax officials did not return to work.

At the same time, the interim government declared NBR services “essential”, the statement said.

Declaring a job or sector as an essential service means work in that area is considered critical for public welfare and must continue without interruption, even during strikes or emergencies.

This typically limits the right of workers in those services to strike or suspend work, and can compel them to return to duty to maintain vital functions.

As the government took stricter measures, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced it had launched a graft investigation against six NBR officials.

Five of the six against whom investigations were opened were “leading” the ongoing “shutdown” programme.

Businessmen then took the initiative. Leaders from several business organisations held an extended meeting with the finance advisor from the afternoon to the evening to resolve the impasse.

They then met with protest representatives for discussions.

After receiving “positive assurances” from that meeting, the protest council decided to back down from their previously stance.

They then announced the suspension of the movement through a notice.