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Five top officials of the National Board of Revenue have been sent packing on allegations of instigating the recent work stoppage and demonstrations that stalled Bangladesh's external trade and tax mobilisation.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has sent the NBR high-ups into forced retirement, officials said Wednesday, as heads roll over the unprecedented work abstention, leading to 'complete shutdown', over reform issues.
Of them, three are board members and two commissioners.
Internal Resources Division (IRD) under the finance ministry issued five separate orders on July 2, 2025 to this effect.
The officials are Jakir Hossain, Commissioner of the Chittagong Customs House, Hussein Ahmed, member, Customs policy, Dr Md Abdur Rouf, member, VAT policy, Md Alamgir Hossain, member, income tax, and Md Shabbir Ahmed, commissioner in Barishal tax zone.
The IRD order says, "The members have completed 25-year tenure in their service. As per the Public Service Act 2018, section 45, they have been sent to retirement for the sake of public interest."
However, they would be entitled to after-retirement benefits.
On Tuesday, the commissioner of the Chittagong Customs House in the country's commercial lifeline was put under suspension.
MoF officials said the commissioner shut the customs house on June 28 and 29, "creating obstacles to import-export operations".
The ministry sources further said the decision came from the Chief Adviser's office following findings by the intelligence agencies on their "active involvement in triggering the protests at all tax offices across the country".
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