Business Report :
Business leaders have called for the resignation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman, Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, citing his role in harassing businesses and stifling economic growth.
They have also called for a complete overhaul of the NBR, emphasizing the need for greater accountability among its officials to prevent further harassment.
These demands were made at a meeting of export-oriented trade bodies, organized by the Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) at a hotel in the capital on Monday.
Abdullah Hil Rakib, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), speaking as a special guest, stressed the need for a complete reform of the NBR.
He suggested that an expert with a solid understanding of economics should be appointed as NBR chairman.
“As key contributors to the revenue sector, it’s essential that every policy is developed after thorough research and consultation with us,” he added. Shams Mahmud, a director of the BGMEA, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the ongoing harassment businesses face from the NBR.
He called for immediate action to address this issue, especially concerning the readymade garments (RMG) sector.
Additionally, K M Iqbal, the vice-president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association pointed out that while harassment from the NBR is a significant issue, there are other areas that also require attention.
“The NBR chairman is just a collector; he is not a law maker but he introduces laws. Strict action should be taken in this regard to the effect that only lawmakers will make laws, not any collector,” he added.
AHM Moin Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Association of Precursor and Solvent Manufacturers, said that a fair and responsible NBR should be established, for which the NBR chairman should resign and there should be coordination between the NBR, Bangladesh Bank and all other financial institutions.
Meanwhile, government officials have given the NBR chairman a 24-hour ultimatum to resign.
They have announced an indefinite strike from Wednesday across all VAT Commissionerates, Custom Houses, and Tax Regions nationwide, if he fails to resign.
The announcement was made jointly by Aminul Islam Akash, president of the Bangladesh Inspector of Taxes Association, and Mujibukkr Rahman, acting president of the Bangladesh Customs and VAT Officers Association, during a demonstration outside the NBR building in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Monday.
Protestors also declared plans to submit a memorandum to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed, demanding the resignation of the NBR chairman.