NBR secy of revenue policy post flacks criticism

Special Correspondent :

With the draft ordinance finalised, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is moving towards splitting into two distinct divisions – the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division. However, discontent has arisen among officials over the appointment process for the secretary of the Revenue Policy Division.

Officials allege that their opinions, particularly regarding the qualifications for appointing the secretary, were not reflected in the final draft. Both the BCS (Customs and VAT) Association and the BCS (Taxation) Association had recommended that the Secretary should be selected from among officials with practical experience in revenue policy and management. However, the draft ordinance reportedly allows the appointment of “any qualified government officer,” igniting frustration and dissatisfaction among field officers.

Leaders of the BCS (Customs and VAT) Association expressed their indignation in a statement signed by President Kazi Mostafizur Rahman and Secretary General AKM Nurul Huda Azad.
At a special general meeting held on April 26 at the NBR’s multipurpose hall, members of the BCS (Customs and VAT) Association and representatives from the Bangladesh Customs and VAT Officers Association (BACAVOA) highlighted the crucial role played by customs and VAT officers in contributing nearly two-thirds of the nation’s revenue. The discussion also focused on the final draft of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance 2025, approved by the Advisory Council on April 17.

In the statement, it was emphasized that without ensuring the appointment of experienced officials to key posts, the intended objective of dividing the NBR could be undermined.

Officials warned that appointing secretaries without practical tax administration experience would weaken the capacity for formulating and implementing modern, business-friendly revenue policies.

Appointment of Secretary: Despite clear recommendations, the draft allows for any qualified government officer to be appointed, sidelining those with direct experience in tax collection and policy-making.

Filling Key Positions: While earlier proposals recommended filling key roles from the BCS (Taxation) and BCS (Customs & VAT) cadres, the draft now opens these roles to officers with experience in a range of unrelated fields.

Overlapping Oversight:
The draft grants the Revenue Policy Division authority to monitor tax law enforcement, which could conflict with the independence of the Revenue Management Division.

Administrative Staffing: Administrative roles in the Revenue Management Division are set to be filled by officers from the Administrative Cadre, excluding tax and customs officials who currently hold many such posts.

Importance of Field Experience: Officials argued that excluding experienced field officers could lead to a policy-practice disconnect, undermining the very purpose of revenue reform.

The associations urged the government to revise the ordinance before its promulgation, stressing the importance of utilizing specialized expertise to achieve sustainable reform.

They also recommended that the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee’s report, like previous reform commission reports, be made public to ensure transparency and public accountability.

Highlighting the historical growth of the NBR – from collecting Tk 1.66 billion in 1972-73 to an estimated Tk 3.63 trillion in 2023-24 – the statement underscored the critical need to strengthen revenue administration, ensure proper investment, and maintain professional morale by recognizing the contributions of experienced officers. The BCS (Customs and VAT) association leaders warned that any initiative undermining field expertise could hinder efforts to improve Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio and called upon all stakeholders to remain vigilant.