Business leaders seek measures to resolve NBR crisis

Businesses on Saturday demanded immediate measures without wasting any time in resolving the emerging crisis related to the shutdown programme enforced by National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials under the banner of NBR Reform Unity Parishad.

They also called both the government and the protesters to sit in the table to discuss, aiming to resolve the issue without stopping the customs activities, saying such a move will severely affect export and import-related activities worth US$65 billion.

They also said they are in favour of the reform of NBR, but also opined that the demand for the removal of the NBR chairman is not accepted.

They made the demands at a joint press conference held Saturday at a city hotel.

"It is absolutely urgent for the relevant ministries and departments of the government— Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, and BIDA—under the leadership of the Chief Advisor’s Office, to sit for discussions with the protesting officers and employees.," ICC President Mahbubur Rahman said.

On behalf of the business community, we call upon the government to take immediate steps to ensure the just and fair protection of the protesting officers and employees' future and to prevent further damage to the country's economy, he added.

At the same time, we urge our protesting brothers and sisters to withdraw programs such as the pen-down strike or complete shutdown and to return to work without any preconditions in the interest of the country’s economy, he added.

"We believe that this crisis can be resolved through an inclusive dialogue, where honest and efficient officials, under a logical reform of the National Board of Revenue, can once again serve the nation without hesitation and contribute positively to the economy of Bangladesh."

BCI president Anwar ul Alam Chowdhury, BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan, LFMEAB president Syed Nasim Manzur, BTMA president Showkat Aziz Russel, BKMEA executive president Fazlee Ehsan Shamim, BGAPMEA president Md Shahriar, and BPGMEA president Shamim Ahmed, among others, were present at the event.

Munni_fe@yahoo.com