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The National Board of Revenue (NBR) resumed normal operations across the country on Monday, as its all employees returned to work following government assurances to meet their four-point demand after a nearly two-week disruption that began on May 14.
“We have returned to work following government assurances, we do hope everything will be fine,” said an official wishing anonymity.
Their demands were repealing the ordinance to dissolve the NBR, removal of its chairman, publication of the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee’s recommendations on the NBR website, and ensuring appropriate and sustainable revenue system reforms through review and discussion with all relevant stakeholders, reports UNB.
The NBR Reform Unity Council started pen-down on May 14 and suspended it on May 19 following a government proposal for dialogue, initiated under the directive of the Chief Adviser. Later, they have started full scale work abstention from Saturday to press home their demands.
On May 21, there was a meeting held at the Conference Room of the Finance Division between a 13-member delegation of the NBR Reform Unity Council and the adviser, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, in the presence of two other advisers.
NBR Reform Unity Council termed the meeting with the finance adviser as unsuccessful.
The members of the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee, three former members of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the secretary of the Finance Ministry, and the chairman of the National Board of Revenue were also present at the meeting.
The NBR Reform Unity Council on Wednesday announced a series of new programmes, including ongoing non-cooperation with the NBR chairman, to press home their demands.
A sit-in programme was held at the NBR and its offices in and outside Dhaka on Thursday.
On Sunday night the Finance Ministry through a press release said that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will be elevated to the status of an independent and specialised department under it.
The government has issued further clarification to eliminate any ambiguity regarding its position on the Revenue Policy and Administration Reform Ordinance, 2025.
It said that the structure of separating revenue policy from implementation—while safeguarding the interests of BCS (Customs and Excise) and BCS (Taxation) cadres—will be finalised through discussions with the NBR, the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee, and other key stakeholders. This process will also focus on strengthening the NBR and establishing a specialised institution for revenue policy.
It also mentioned that all necessary amendments to the ordinance will be made by July 31, 2025, to ensure proper separation of revenue policy formulation and revenue administration.
Importantly, the ordinance will not be enforced until these amendments are completed.
After this assurance, the agitating NBR Reform Unity Council called off their programme and started their daily routine work from Monday.
While visiting different rooms of the Revenue Building at Agargaon area, it was seen that all officials and employees were engaged in their duties.
They expressed their hope that the interim government under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus would take necessary steps to fulfil their legitimate demands.