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Officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have started a nationwide 'complete shutdown' as part of their previously announced programme.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council, a coalition of protesting NBR officials and staff, is demanding the removal of NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan.
The 'Complete Shutdown' calls for a nationwide closure of all tax, customs, and VAT offices from today.
In the morning, some people were able to enter showing ID cards, but later no one was allowed to enter or exist from the NBA headquarters.
However, in a press release issued on Friday, the Ministry of Finance claimed that the Unity Council had withdrawn both the 'Complete Shutdown' and 'March to NBR' programmes.
The ministry cited progress made during a nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long high-level meeting held at the office of the Finance Adviser on Thursday evening (June 26) to resolve the deadlock surrounding the Council's demands.
According to the press release, two key decisions were made during the meeting- recent transfer orders involving some particular NBR officials would be reconsidered and a discussion meeting on amending the "Revenue Policy and Revenue Administration Ordinance, 2025" would be held on Tuesday, 1 July 2025, at 4:00 PM.
The press release, signed by Gazi Touhidul Islam, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Finance, stated that in the interest of maintaining national trade, import-export activities, and public service delivery -- while safeguarding broader national interests -- the government directs all NBR officials and employees to withdraw the announced "Complete Shutdown" and "March to NBR" programmes and return to their respective offices to resume official duties.
Despite the ministry's claims, Rikabder on Friday told The Financial Express, "We are not aware of any such decisions or meetings. Our programme will proceed as scheduled during regular office hours. No officials from the Ministry of Finance have communicated with us."
Later, in a statement, the NBR Reform Unity Council said the council outlined its grievances and reaffirmed its commitment to the previously announced programme, which includes a full-day shutdown of all tax, customs, and VAT offices nationwide today.