The first day of the three-day work abstention called by the NBR Unity Council, a platform comprising officers and employees from the Customs, VAT and Income Tax wings of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), was observed on Tuesday.

The NBR officials refrained from work from 10 am to 1 pm on the first day.

The protest comes in response to the government’s decision to split the NBR, allegedly bypassing the recommendations of the NBR Reform Committee.

During visits to various rooms of the NBR in Agargaon and other offices across the city, it was observed that officials and employees had put down their pens to symbolise participation in the work abstention programme.

Speaking to several participants, they said they are not against the division of the NBR but stressed that it should be carried out through fruitful discussions and in alignment with the reform proposals of the NBR Reform Committee.

“We have no problem with the splitting, but in the name of that, paving the way for the intrusion of admin cadre people at various levels of the revenue divisions is not acceptable at all,” said an official.

The work abstention will continue from 10 am to 3 pm on Thursday and again from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday.

NBR staff announce 3-day work abstention protesting ‘secret’ split decision

For the past several weeks, NBR officials have been protesting, demanding the removal of the provision that allows administrative cadre officers to be appointed under the new law.

The legislation, which divides the NBR into two separate entities—the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division—has become a major point of contention.

The government formed the NBR Reform Committee on October 9 last year, comprising former NBR chairmen Muhammad Abdul Mazid and Nasiruddin Ahmed, along with former members Delwar Hossain and Aminur Rahman.

The ordinance was reportedly published secretly at midnight on Monday.

Under the new law, the government may appoint any suitably qualified government officer as secretary or senior secretary of the newly created Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Divisions.

NBR spilt into 2 divisions to overhaul tax system: Govt

Besides, the Customs, Excise and Value Added Tax Appellate Tribunal and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal will now fall under the Revenue Policy Division of the Finance Ministry.

The interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, recently approved the draft law to divide the NBR into the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.

As per the law, various posts in the two divisions will be filled by officers with experience in income tax, value-added tax, customs, economics, business administration, research and statistics, administration, audit and accounting, and legal affairs.

The law states that separating revenue policy formulation from revenue collection management is necessary to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the revenue system.

NBR staff to intensify agitation against bifurcation of the revenue agency

It further says that administrative posts within the Revenue Management Division will be filled by officers from the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre and by employees currently working in the Revenue Management Department.