Complete shutdown, march to NBR to continue: Reform Unity Council
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Demanding the removal of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman and inclusive reforms in the revenue sector, protesting officials and employees have announced that the complete shutdown and March to NBR programmes will continue on Sunday as well.
The NBR Reform Unity Council made the announcement on Saturday during a press briefing held at the gate of the NBR headquarters.
Earlier in the day, officials under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council launched the “Complete Shutdown and March to NBR” programme. Officers from Dhaka and across the country gathered in front of the NBR building in the capital from the morning.
Meanwhile, business leaders held a press conference at a hotel in Dhaka to address the overall situation.
Responding to the business community’s statement, Council President Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabder said, “The business community claims that the removal of the NBR Chairman is not desirable and won’t lead to any solution. We regret that they did not clarify in their press release why they believe the removal of a bureaucrat—who is an accomplice of a fallen fascist regime—is undesirable. However, we have already explained, through previous and today’s statements, to the business community and the nation why the removal of NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan is essential for full, genuine, sustainable, and practical reform of the revenue system.”
Regarding the ongoing programme, he added that the nationwide complete shutdown announced by the NBR Reform Unity Council would continue on Sunday across all tax, customs, and VAT offices. However, international passenger services would remain outside the scope of the shutdown.
Additionally, on 29 June, officials from all tax, customs, and VAT offices across the country will stage a peaceful March to NBR programme, he said.
Council General Secretary Sehela Siddika said, “We’ve been called for a dialogue on Tuesday. If there were a real intent for dialogue, it could have been scheduled during today’s programme. Tuesday feels too far off.”
She added, “We are not sure about the sincerity of the government’s intention to hold talks. If we are called at any moment, we are certainly ready to join. But what will we discuss? We will go with our logical demands for comprehensive revenue reform.”
She stressed that the current NBR Chairman is the primary obstacle to reform, and his removal would clear the way for genuine progress.
Responding to allegations that businesses are being held hostage by the NBR, she remarked, “They are actually hostages to the higher-ups within the NBR itself.”
Council Senior Vice-President Mirza Ashiq Rana said, “For the past three days, the situation here has resembled a war zone. Water cannons have been stationed. Why does a government official (the NBR Chairman) need to enter the building at 6 am under armed escort? Which other secretary in Bangladesh enters their office like that? Meanwhile, employees are left standing outside, under the sun and in the rain.”
He also accused the authorities of besieging the NBR building and disconnecting electricity and internet services inside the premises.