Revenue officials intensify protest seeking structural reform and accuse NBR chairman of obstructing reform agenda

Dhaka, June 28 – The ongoing protest at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) led by its officers and employees will continue through Sunday, as declared by the NBR Reform Unity Council. The protestors demand the immediate removal of the NBR chairman and a comprehensive reform of the country’s revenue sector with participation from all relevant stakeholders.

At a press conference held at 3 PM on Saturday, the Reform Unity Council announced the continuation of the "Complete Shutdown" and "March to NBR" programs into the following day. They emphasized that international passenger services will remain outside the scope of this shutdown in order to avoid disruption to critical services.

The protest, which gained momentum on Saturday, is rooted in widespread dissatisfaction with the current leadership at the NBR. Council President Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdaar claimed that reform under the existing chairman is impossible, especially in light of the government's May 25 press release, which he deemed insufficient. According to him, the chairman is acting on behalf of a specific vested group and is implementing their authoritarian agenda.

Speaking to the media, Rikabdaar stated that the reform movement is open to discussions with the government but made it clear that meaningful dialogue can only happen after the NBR chairman is removed. He accused the chairman of spreading misinformation and failing to provide a pathway toward resolution.

From early Saturday morning, officers and staff from customs, VAT, and income tax departments across Dhaka and other districts gathered outside the NBR headquarters in Agargaon. The building’s sidewalks and adjacent roads were occupied by protestors holding posters and placards bearing their demands. The building was effectively sealed off, with no entry or exit allowed.

Simultaneously, customs houses and revenue stations across the country—including Chattogram Port, Benapole, and Dhaka Customs House—ceased operations. All customs clearance activities related to imports and exports came to a standstill, significantly impacting trade and logistics.

According to the council, the current wave of protests was further provoked by administrative retaliation. On June 21 and 22, several officials associated with the reform campaign were transferred in what the council termed as "vindictive and repressive" actions. Five senior officials who led the frontlines of the movement were abruptly reassigned to relatively low-revenue offices outside Dhaka, often without even being given a standard joining period.

The Reform Unity Council stated that these transfers were in direct violation of civil service regulations and were designed to suppress the movement. Rikabdaar alleged that the chairman is pursuing personal vendettas and undermining the spirit of reform by resorting to illegal and politically motivated actions.

He further claimed that these administrative measures reflect a larger conspiracy to derail the growing demand for structural transformation within the revenue administration. Under these circumstances, protestors have vowed to continue the shutdown until their demands are addressed.

Despite the growing disruption across revenue services, including customs and tax operations, the government has yet to make any formal statement addressing the protestors' core demand—the removal of the NBR chairman.

The continued standoff threatens to deepen the crisis in the country's revenue collection system, potentially impacting national budget implementation, trade processing, and the overall economy if no resolution is reached soon.