Staff Reporter :
Officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have pledged to continue their ongoing ‘pen-down strike’ on Monday, while rejecting proposals to meet solely with the Finance Adviser.
The strike, which entered its fourth day on Sunday, is part of the officials’ demand to revoke a recent ordinance that proposes the dissolution of the NBR.
Speaking at a press conference in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday, representatives of the ‘NBR Reform Unity Parishad’ stated that they will not engage in discussions exclusively with the Finance Adviser unless other advisers from the interim government are also present.
Furthermore, the officials said they have not received any formal communication regarding a meeting with the Finance Adviser.
Deputy Commissioner of Taxes at the NBR, Sehela Siddiqua, commented, “We have not received any official notification about a meeting with the Finance Adviser. We remain open to talks provided other government advisers participate. Alternatively, we are willing to send a delegation if the Chief Adviser wishes to meet with us directly.”
Siddiqua reiterated the officials’ opposition to the dissolution of the NBR, calling instead for the board to be restructured as an independent agency.
“Transparency International Bangladesh has also raised concerns about the ordinance and recommended establishing an autonomous body rather than dissolving the NBR. We endorse this position,” she added.
Earlier, NBR’s Public Relations Officer, Al Amin Sheikh, informed the press that Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed plans to meet NBR officials at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, 20 May.
The officials’ principal demands include the immediate withdrawal of the proposed Revenue Ordinance, the public release of the NBR Reform Advisory Committee’s report, and a comprehensive overhaul of the revenue system, to be achieved through meaningful consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including NBR officials, business associations, civil society groups, and political leaders.
