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Published : 08 Oct 2025, 08:45 PM
National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan has complained that many field-level officers at customs houses, VAT commissionerates, and tax zones do not follow directives issued from the board.
Speaking at a “Meet the Business” session with the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday, he said businesses also share responsibility for tolerating such "irregularities".
“You are businesspeople and professionals, so you too are at fault,” he said. “Why do you tolerate this? They are paid with your money, yet they do not follow government instructions, and you keep accepting it?
“The more you tolerate, the more irregularities they commit. You must stop tolerating and start complaining.”
Rahman urged businesses to take on the role of “whistle-blowers” and report misconduct online.
“You can lodge complaints online, specifying what happened and what action you seek. We will investigate and take disciplinary measures against those responsible,” he said.
He added that many “useful tips” come from whistle-blowers and without their cooperation, the situation will not improve.
He noted that customs houses continue to use outdated valuation records instead of applying the “transaction price” method as instructed.
The chairman said some officers inflate product values to collect higher taxes, which he described as “unnecessary and unlawful”.
“There is no need to extort or force extra taxes beyond the law,” he added. “I have told tax commissioners and customs houses that I will not ask how much money they collect, nor do I want to know. In our revenue meetings, we no longer discuss collection figures.”
Rahman said, “I have asked them to report whether they are complying with NBR rules, laws, and instructions. If they do that, revenue will come automatically. The mindset must change.
“Collecting extra revenue does not make someone a great officer. They must abandon this mentality of seeking rewards for over-collection.”
He said goods should be released from customs stations within one or two days, adding that the culture of delaying shipments to “harm” businesses must end.
