Published : 30 Jun 2025, 05:03 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:27 PM
The government has formed a five-member advisory committee to help resolve the ongoing crisis triggered by protests and a complete shutdown by officers of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The decision to form a committee came during a meeting of the Advisory Council on Sunday, according to a statement from the Cabinet Division.
The members of the committee are: Power Advisor Faozul Kabir Khan (chair), Public Works Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, Labour Advisor M Sakhawat Hossain, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin.
The NBR unrest began in May after the government issued an ordinance to split the agency into two divisions, Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. NBR officers and staff rejected the reform, launching a series of protests including abstention from work.
Although the government initially backed down and assured officials that any implementation would involve discussion, the protest escalated further with demands for the resignation of the NBR chairman.
The chairman was later declared “unwelcome” at the NBR headquarters by the protesters.
On Saturday, NBR staff enforced a “complete shutdown”, bringing core functions, including import and export operations, to a standstill.
In response, the government declared NBR services “essential” on Sunday and issued a statement urging staff to return to work and cease all unlawful and anti-national activities.
It warned that failure to comply would compel the government to take “strict action.”
Shortly after that, the government announced the formation of the advisory committee to mediate the crisis and restore functionality at the country’s key revenue-collecting institution.
