Citing government’s rigid stance and exclusionary negotiation approach, protesting officials decline meeting with Finance Advisor and escalate movement.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council has rejected an invitation to dialogue with the Finance Advisor scheduled for June 26 and instead declared a new protest program titled ‘March to NBR’ to be held on June 28. The announcement came during a press briefing held on Wednesday (June 25) at the NBR premises in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

President of the Reform Unity Council, Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar, and General Secretary, Sehela Siddiqua, made the announcement. They stated that ongoing protests will continue, as the government has shown no flexibility regarding their demands.

According to the Council leaders, the core demands include the resignation of the NBR Chairman, necessary amendments to the ordinance related to NBR reform through inclusive dialogue, and an end to the exclusion of non-tax and non-customs cadres from the negotiation process. They also voiced strong opposition to the government’s unwavering stance on dissolving the NBR altogether.

The leaders criticized the Finance Ministry for offering dialogue only to the BCS (Tax) and CCS (Customs and Excise) cadres, sidelining the representatives of the reform alliance. “You can’t solve a structural crisis by talking to a fragment of the institution,” said a Council spokesperson. “This selective dialogue undermines the unity and diversity within NBR’s workforce.”

They further expressed frustration over recent comments by the Finance Advisor in media interviews, where he reaffirmed the government’s intent to dismantle the NBR and pressed forward with its current reform agenda, despite growing dissent from within the revenue board.

“In such a situation, attending the proposed meeting on June 26 would be meaningless,” the leaders stated.

The Reform Unity Council reaffirmed its commitment to its movement and called for solidarity among all officials affected by the government’s approach to NBR reform. The upcoming ‘March to NBR’ event on June 28 is expected to draw wide participation from employees across the revenue administration who support a more inclusive and consultative reform process.

Despite growing tensions, the Council reiterated that their movement is rooted in constructive dialogue and institutional integrity—not in personal gain. They urged the government to reconsider its strategy and engage all stakeholders in meaningful discussions to ensure effective and equitable reform of the country’s revenue system.

As the standoff intensifies, all eyes are now on the June 28 demonstration, which could mark a pivotal moment in the future of revenue administration in Bangladesh.