Unity Council accuses NBR chairman of blocking reform agenda

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council has accused NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan of obstructing the government’s revenue reform agenda and has warned of an indefinite shutdown of NBR operations if he is not removed by Friday (June 27).

At a press conference on Tuesday in Agargaon, Dhaka, Council leaders alleged that the chairman is advancing the agenda of what they termed the “fugitive fascist Awami regime” and is actively preventing reforms from being implemented. They claimed he has created a climate hostile to change through politically motivated transfers and a series of conspiratorial actions.

As part of their ongoing protest, customs and tax officials observed a pen-down and sit-in programme for the second day in a row. The demonstration took place from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka and across customs and tax offices nationwide.

During the event, protesting officials and employees dramatically tore up transfer orders issued for NBR officials.

Since the morning, they had staged a sit-in on the ground floor of the NBR building. NBR Reform Unity Council President and Additional Commissioner Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar, along with other leaders, addressed the gathering. They stated the movement will continue until logical and meaningful reforms are adopted.

The council pointed to the recent compulsory retirement of six senior bureaucrats from the previous regime as evidence of a broader attempt to suppress reform efforts. They alleged that the NBR Chairman is at the centre of this effort, working to mislead policymakers and distance them from the Unity Council, even after the government accepted several of the council’s core demands.

One major flashpoint, according to the council, was the chairman's refusal to permit a stakeholder seminar titled “What Kind of NBR Do We Want?”

They alleged that their official request was discarded, forcing income tax, VAT, and customs officials to hold the event while sitting on the floor. The chairman reportedly also banned gatherings in and around the NBR building, worsening the situation.

The council criticised the formation of a six-member ordinance reform committee that excluded its representatives. It claimed that the appointment of the second junior member—also the former head of the now-defunct BCS (Taxation) Association—as chief coordinator was designed to allow the Chairman to steer the process through loyal appointees.

Other questionable decisions cited included the transfer of a commissioner in violation of civil service rules, the appointment of a controversial figure to a sensitive post, and the abrupt reassignment of five senior tax officers without proper notice.

The chairman was also accused of deploying outside groups to disrupt peaceful protests and of intimidating participating officials with threats of punitive transfers. These actions have reportedly disrupted office workflow and negatively impacted revenue collection.

The council reminded the public that the current NBR chairman previously served as Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division during the Awami League government—a period marked by several major banking scandals, including those involving the S. Alam Group.

Declaring the chairman “unwelcome” at the Revenue Building, the council reiterated its demands: his immediate removal, reversal of politically motivated transfers, and the reconstitution of the ordinance reform committee with Council representation.

If their demands are not met by June 27, the council warned it would initiate a full and indefinite shutdown of all income tax, VAT, and customs operations across the country.

While international passenger services will remain unaffected, the council cautioned that such a disruption could lead to severe revenue shortfalls, forcing the government to rely on high-interest borrowing that may fuel inflation and hurt the private sector.

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