Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Amid the ongoing unrest at the National Board of Revenue (NBR), its Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan admitted that he is currently in a very difficult situation.
He also expressed hope that the movement would be resolved through discussions with the Finance Adviser.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) on Thursday, the NBR chairman said,
“I am actually in a very difficult situation today. You all know that, particularly regarding NBR reforms, the decisions taken by the Honourable Chief Adviser and the interim government have sparked disagreements among many of our officials and staff.”
“To address those concerns, our Honourable Finance Minister has already announced that an amendment will be made by July. Today at 5 PM, we are scheduled to sit with them. We hope that a solution may be reached through this discussion.”
The discussion is scheduled with the Finance Adviser at 5 PM; however, representatives of the NBR Reform Unity Council are not included in the meeting. At a press briefing on Wednesday, the Council leaders announced they would not participate.
Meanwhile, the sit-in and pen-down strike demanding the removal of the current NBR chairman continued as before.
There were also reports that a military team had cordoned off the NBR headquarters at the Revenue Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the premises.
When Additional Commissioner and Council President Hasan Mohammad Tarek Rikabdar attempted to enter, he was stopped. In protest, he sat down in front of the main gate of the NBR building.
Addressing the impact of the movement, the chairman admitted during the seminar that revenue collection is being disrupted:
“Naturally, our revenue collection is being hampered to some extent due to the ongoing movement.”
He urged all parties to act in the national interest, saying,
“We all should work for the country. Whatever reforms we undertake, whatever laws we make, or even when we protest or fight for a cause—it should not be just for ourselves but for the sake of the country.”
newsmanjasi@gmail.com