Advisory council approves amendment to 2 NBR divisions

August 22, 2025

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller shakes hand with Vice-Chairman of National Consensus Commission Professor Ali Riaz at the latter's office in the capital on Thursday.

Staff Reporter :

The Advisory Council on Thursday approved the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which reorganises the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two separate divisions-Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division.

The ordinance kept the scope open to appoint either a National Board of Revenue (NBR) official or another qualified officer as the chief of the Revenue Policy Division.

The decision came at a meeting of the Advisory Council held at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced the approval at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. He said a total of 11 changes had been incorporated into the amended ordinance.

According to Shafiqul Alam, under the new provisions, the chiefs of the two newly created NBR divisions will be appointed on the basis of merit, experience, and impartiality. “If required, officers from any cadre may be considered for appointment,” he added.

In a written statement, the press secretary recalled that the original Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance 2025 was promulgated on May 12 this year with the objective of separating revenue policymaking from revenue collection to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Following its promulgation, consultations were held with NBR officials and staff on various provisions.

On June 29, the Advisory Council formed a special committee to boost business, trade, industry, port operations, and revenue mobilisation. The committee comprised advisers from different ministries, NBR members, representatives of the BCS Taxation and Customs cadres, business organisations, and the NBR Reform Advisory Committee.

The committee held a series of meetings with stakeholders, visited tax, customs, and VAT offices at the field level, and ultimately suggested several amendments and additions to the ordinance. Guided by the Finance Adviser, those recommendations were incorporated into the final draft of the amendment.

Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad were also present at the briefing.