Home
+
Published : 30 Jun 2025, 03:07 AM
RBS Industrial Ltd, an exporter of sports and gym wear from the Chattogram EPZ, had 12 consignments ready to ship to the US and Europe over the weekend. But as customs houses across Bangladesh entered a “complete shutdown” demanding the removal of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, the company was unable to dispatch its goods. All cargo movement through Chattogram Port, the country’s busiest, has been suspended since Saturday.
Anjan Shekhar Das, director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and owner of RBS Industrial, told bdnews24.com: “It’s not just the exports; I have eight consignments of imported raw materials stuck as well. This will hurt our reputation with international buyers and force us to pay hefty port demurrage.”
He warned of potential delays in shipments and feared financial penalties for missing delivery deadlines.
NATIONWIDE DISRUPTION TO TRADE
The shutdown has paralysed trade at Chattogram and other ports, halting customs operations and sparking fears of raw material shortages in factories. Backlogs are growing as import and export flows remain frozen.
At a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday, leaders from various business associations estimated the strike was disrupting over Tk 25 billion ($215 million) worth of trade daily.
GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN, PROTESTERS BACK DOWN
On the second day of the shutdown, the government declared NBR services “essential,” ordering protesting officials back to work under threat of disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission announced investigations into six striking NBR officials for alleged graft. The government also formed an advisory committee of five advisors to resolve the crisis.
Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed refused talks with the protesters while the shutdown continued. But later, after meetings mediated by business leaders, the NBR Reform Unity Council agreed to withdraw the shutdown based on “positive assurances”.
GOODS STUCK AT KEY LAND PORTS
At Benapole, Bangladesh’s largest land port, C&F agent Abdul Latif of Ratul Enterprise said:
“Fifteen to twenty trucks with raw materials for Akij Printing, Holcim Cement, and Berger Paints have been stuck here for a week. Customs officials’ pen-down and shutdown mean nothing is moving, and importers are facing serious financial losses.”
Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in Chattogram have seen containers pile up. Ruhul Amin Shikder, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association (BICDA), told bdnews24.com: “On Sunday, not a single export container could move from depots to the port. Usually, about 2,200 TEUs go daily.”
CHAOS AT BORDER POINTS
In the Benapole-Petrapole border area, hundreds of trucks carrying raw materials for Bangladesh’s garment sector are stranded on both sides.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of India’s Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association, said: “Every day of stalled trade costs crores of rupees. If the issue lies with Bangladesh, shipments will only resume once they resolve it.”
Benapole importer Shafiqul Rahman Ujjal added, “My shipment of 11 tonnes of chemicals and sponge iron has been left stranded for a week. We’ve paid the customs duties, but nothing is being released.”
ROOTS OF THE CRISIS
The unrest stems from the government’s May ordinance splitting the NBR into separate revenue management and policy divisions without consulting its officials. NBR staff launched work stoppages to force authorities to roll back the ordinance.
The government promised discussions, but the situation escalated after the NBR chairman formed a committee to implement the split without talks and reportedly blocked room bookings for a seminar on the reforms. The move fuelled fresh anger, leading to the complete shutdown from Saturday.
Economist Prof Mustafizur Rahman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue told bdnews24.com, “Everyone broadly agrees on separating revenue policy and administration, but it must happen through consensus. The government should urgently seek a compromise based on the advisory commission’s recommendations.”
ECONOMIC FALLOUT
Disrupted imports of essentials like cement and paint raw materials are expected to ripple through the economy.
BGMEA president Mahmud Hossain Khan said, “Daily economic activities worth Tk 25 billion are being disrupted. Exporters, especially in the RMG sector, are facing shipment delays, damaging our global reputation.”
C&F agents across the country reported dozens of shipments stalled despite customs duties already paid.
Sajeur Rahman of Nur Enterprise said, “A truck of bleaching powder critical for a factory has been stuck in the port for six days due to the shutdown.”
CALL FOR URGENT RESOLUTION
Analysts warned the prolonged disruption would erode Bangladesh’s competitiveness, extend supply chain delays, and ultimately hurt both producers and consumers.
Prof Mustafizur said, “This will reduce our competitiveness, delay trade, and send negative signals to international partners.”
BGMEA’s Anjan Das added, “Our shipments are stuck. Ships are leaving empty. This chaos cannot continue.”
‘WHAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE DAY?’
As part of a pre-announced programme demanding the removal of the NBR chairman, officers and staff from tax, VAT, and customs offices across the country began gathering outside the Revenue Bhaban, or NBR headquarters, in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Sunday morning.
After 9am, the entrance of the facility was blocked which led the protesters to begin their demonstration outside the building instead.
Since Thursday afternoon, law-enforcing agencies had been preventing access to the NBR premises, and Sunday was no exception.
Security forces remained on high alert throughout the day.
Signs of a potential breakthrough emerged after noon following the announcement that a delegation of the protesters would head to the Secretariat to meet with Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed. The meeting was scheduled for 4pm.
A list of the delegates attending the meeting was shared with the media by the council which also suspended its "March to NBR" programme ahead of the event.
The protesters said the "March to NBR" programme would remain suspended until the discussion with the advisor concluded. However, the "complete shutdown" would continue in the meantime.
However, the suspension of the march had little effect, as those planning to join the movement had already left. As a result, activities related to customs clearance, import and export remained effectively paralysed.
In response, the interim government adopted a stricter position.
The finance advisor later announced that no meeting with the protesting NBR officials would take place that day.
While en route to the Secretariat, the protest delegates reportedly turned back after learning that the meeting had been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the Chief Advisor’s Office warned of strict action if they do not return to work.
In a statement, the interim administration called on officials and employees to return to work immediately and refrain from activities that are against the law and national interests.
It said, “In the national interest of keeping vital import-export and foreign trade operations functional, the government has decided to declare all categories of employment under all customs houses, ICDs, bond commissionerates, and tariff stations, operating under the National Board of Revenue, as essential services.”
Amidst the government's firm stance, the ACC launched a preliminary inquiry into allegations of corruption against six NBR officers.
Among those six, five are reported to be leading figures in the ongoing NBR “shutdown” programme.
The charges include causing financial loss to the state through corruption, including facilitating tax evasion in exchange for bribes and amassing illicit wealth, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain said on Sunday.
Following the development, business leaders took the initiative to meet with the finance advisor, alongside representatives of the protesters in an effort to resolve the ongoing deadlock.
The NBR unity council issued a statement announcing the suspension of the movement after the meeting.
MEETING BETWEEN FINANCE ADVISOR AND BUSINESS LEADERS
In response to the disruption of customs operations caused by the tax officials’ movement, the finance advisor held a meeting with leaders of several business associations to resolve the crisis on Sunday afternoon.
The meeting continued past 7pm. During the session, representatives from business organisations were assured of government cooperation to overcome the NBR stalemate.
Kamran Tanvirur Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) who attended the meeting, told bdnews24.com: "We presented the full scope of the problem. The government is sincerely committed to resolving it.
“As business leaders, we are ready to cooperate with the government in finding a solution. If necessary and the government wants, we are also prepared to speak with NBR employees and report back to the authorities."
Following the promise from the meeting and pleas from business leaders, the council leading the movement announced a suspension of their protest programme.
After the announcement, the MCCI president told bdnews24.com: "Now, a committee formed with five government advisors will jointly meet with the NBR employees. We are hopeful that the situation will return to normal through discussions."
Alongside NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan and BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, Mahbubur Rahman, president of the International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB) and Showkat Aziz Russel, president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) were among others who attended the meeting with Salehuddin.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The government formed a five-member advisory committee to help resolve the ongoing crisis in light of the demonstration by tax officials.
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.
