NBR Unity Council rejects finance adviser’s dialogue offer

NBR Unity Council rejects finance adviser’s dialogue offer

 

NBR Unity Council rejects finance adviser’s dialogue offerUNB

 The financial adviser's request for a meeting to address the ongoing crisis surrounding the proposed reorganization of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) was turned down by the NBR Reform Unity Council on Wednesday.

Hassan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar, the president of the Unity Council and an extra commissioner, made the statement during a news conference held on the grounds of the NBR headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Rikabdar stated in a written statement that the government is reverting to previous stances and has not yet withdrawn its plan to restructure the NBR, instead creating it as a separate and specialized department within the finance ministry.

He added that no one from the NBR Reform Unity Council would be attending the debate on Thursday since Council officials were not invited.

"Our involvement is not conceivable because we have not been given the opportunity to join the debate," he stated.

The Council restated its only demand, which is the immediate dismissal of the incumbent chairman of the NBR.

They claimed that because the chairman was involved in carrying out the "program of the former fascist Awami League government," he is ranked third out of 44 bureaucrats, six of whom have already been placed on mandatory retirement.

 The statement said, "We believe the dismissal of the current NBR chairman must be the first step towards serious reforms of the revenue system."

Additionally, a number of protest programs were announced by the council.

On June 26 from 12 to 5 p.m., NBR offices will be subject to a sit-in and pen-down protest, with the exception of services pertaining to exports and international passengers.

A non-stop, indefinite work stoppage will start on June 28 in all offices under the Tax, Customs, and VAT departments if the NBR cairman is not dismissed by June 27. The shutdown will not affect passenger services operating internationally.

The Council intends to start a "March to NBR" campaign from tax offices nationwide on June 28th, calling for the cancellation of the reorganization plan and long-term reforms.

A strong caution against any retaliatory action was also included in the message. 

 

"Thousands of employees in the Tax, Customs, and VAT departments will collectively fight if any officer or employee—regardless of rank—is subjected to forced retirement, transfer, demotion, or any punitive measure for participation in the Council's programs," the statement stated.

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