CPD researcher says NBR officials sought 'bribe' for access to data

The private think tank’s research director also complains about facing “harassment” at the NBR

A researcher from Bangladesh’s Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has alleged that officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) demanded a bribe when he sought access to data for a study.

Tamim Ahmed, Senior Research Associate at CPD, made the claim on Tuesday while presenting the findings of a study on corporate tax at a dialogue in Dhaka.

“When I went to collect data from the NBR, regrettably, I too was asked for a bribe,” he told the event.

CPD Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem added that while he was not asked for money, he too faced difficulties in obtaining information.

“We also wanted to conduct our study using 2025 data. But unfortunately, when we requested information from the NBR, we faced harassment,” he said.

For the study, researchers gathered information from 123 companies in Dhaka and Chattogram related to corporate tax, and from 389 business establishments across the country on VAT.

The report also highlighted the concerns of businesses about tax administration.

Seventy-two percent of companies surveyed said corruption among tax officials was the “single major challenge” they faced.

Eighty-two percent said they were subject to an “unfair” tax rate, while 79 percent cited a lack of accountability among NBR officials as a major obstacle.