Home
+
Published : 26 Jun 2025, 02:08 AM
The NBR Reform Unity Council has demanded that the government investigate and publicly identify the business owners who, according to the finance advisor, are allegedly instigating the protests by National Board of Revenue (NBR) staff.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the council leaders said they would not join the advisor’s proposed discussion, citing that their representatives were not included in the list of invitees.
Speaking to journalists earlier that day after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase, Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed said the push for NBR reform stems from the institution’s history of irregularities, marked by a “lack of accountability and transparency”.
“In many cases, only a select group of businessmen connected to the previous government benefited, while more deserving individuals were left out.
“NBR was nowhere near ensuring equal opportunity for all.”
He suggested that certain business interests could be behind the unease, wondering why officers would suddenly be so concerned about career matters without external influence.
The advisor, however, clarified that this is just his assumption and he is not directly accusing the businessmen.
In an interview with the Amar Desh newspaper, the advisor said some dishonest business owners fear losing their “ill-gotten benefits” under the new reforms, which is why they are “manipulating” NBR staff into opposing the changes.
The Unity Council responded by demanding an investigation into the matter, saying the allegations are not backed with evidence.
On the topic of a discussion, the council said: “We are always open for a dialogue, that’s why we joined talks with the advisor on the 20th of May. However, of the 55 minutes allocated for that meeting, only 10 minutes were given to our two representatives.
“Afterwards, the advisor told the media the talks were ‘fruitful,’ which didn’t reflect our experience.”
Reiterating their demand for the current NBR chairman’s removal, the council accused him of acting as a “political agent for the Awami League government” and “destabilising the country’s revenue system”.
They also announced a fresh programme.
If the chairman is not removed by Friday, “a complete shutdown” of all tax, customs, and VAT offices will begin Saturday, excluding only international passenger services.
