Recruitment policy in the works for top NBR posts, says advisor

“It started as a simple protest, but it gradually turned into an anti-government movement," he says on protests by NBR officials

An advisory committee is planning to recommend a recruitment policy in a bid to resolve the ongoing rift between government cadre services over appointments to top positions at the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

Energy Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan, who heads the committee, announced the plan at a media briefing on Sunday.

The Cabinet Division formed the committee, comprising Fouzul, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Public Works Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, to address tensions at the NBR.

In May, the government issued an ordinance to split the NBR into two entities. The move sparked criticism, with claims that it reduced the authority and benefits of officials from the BCS (Taxation) and BCS (Customs) cadres. The groups also demanded that the NBR be kept independent of the administration cadre.

Protests have continued in phases since the reform process began. Just 10 days after the ordinance was issued, the government suspended it on May 22, pushing the implementation date to Jul 31. Still, the protests did not stop.

At one point, NBR officials even called for a blockade, prompting the government to form the advisory committee.

Since then, several senior officials involved in the protests have been sent into mandatory retirement.

“We’ve identified several issues in the ordinance. As an advisory group, our role is to recommend how to address those problems,” said Fouzul.

Addressing the NBR protests, he added: “It started as a simple protest, but it gradually turned into an anti-government movement. The intention was to harm the economy and obstruct revenue collection.”

“They used the movement to adopt an anti-government stance. The government, in response, has shown great patience. We want to practice democracy, not repression, and that’s what was done here.”