Four more officials from the Customs cadre have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the movement against the dissolution of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
On Monday, the Internal Resources Division (IRD) under the Ministry of Finance issued four separate notifications from its Customs-2 branch to announce their suspension.
The suspended officials are, Additional Commissioner Sadhan Kumar Kundu, Additional Commissioner Abul Ala Mohammad Amimul Ihsan Khan, Joint Commissioner Md. Sanowarul Kabir and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saidul Islam.
The interim government on May 12 issued an ordinance splitting the NBR into two divisions—Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. Opposing the ordinance officials from Customs, VAT, and Income Tax departments launched a movement.
During this protest, the officials allegedly disrupted official work, left their duties, and played a key role in organizing the movement, which reportedly hampered the country’s import-export activities, the notifications said.
As a result, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against them. Under Section 39(1) of the Government Service Act, 2018, they have been suspended and assigned as special officers on special duty (OSD) at the National Board of Revenue, it added.
Previously, on July 2, four senior officials were sent into forced retirement. The officials are Member (Tax) Md. Alamgir Hossain, Member (VAT Policy) Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, Member (Customs Policy) Hossain Ahmed and Tax Commissioner Md. Shabbir Ahmed.
A day earlier, on July 1, Chattogram Customs House Commissioner Md. Zakir Hossain was also suspended and later attached to the NBR as an OSD.
Additionally, on July 15, a total of 14 officials were suspended for publicly tearing up and disobeying a government transfer order. Among them were 9 officers from the Income Tax department and 5 from Customs and VAT.
Most of these suspended officials were allegedly involved in the movement led by the NBR Reform Unity Council, which had four major demands, including the withdrawal of the ordinance and the removal of the NBR Chairman.
After the issuance of the government ordinance the NBR officials and employees staged a 61-day protest demanding logical reforms through consultation with all stakeholders.
The movement culminated in a “Complete Shutdown” and a “March to NBR” on June 28 and 29, during which all Customs Houses, VAT Commissionerate, and Income Tax offices were shut down.
These shutdowns significantly disrupted the country’s import and export activities. Eventually, the Unity Council called off the movement following mediation by business leaders.