The services of National Board of Revenue (NBR) has come to a standstill as officials and staff began a strike on Sunday morning in protest of the government’s recent ordinance to dissolve the NBR.
Most customs and tax employees gathered near the main gate of the NBR building in Agargaon, Dhaka, while the two main entrances remained closed.
The strike, organized under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, started at 9am. As a result, NBR’s regular operations have been effectively shut down.
On-site observations showed officials sitting with placards at the main gate and in the auditorium. By 12:30pm, the NBR chairman has not yet arrived at the office. A large number of police officers, including women police, were stationed inside and outside the building for security.
With the gates shut, vehicles could not enter or exit, and employees had to walk into the premises. Only one electric staircase was opened later in the day, while all security checkpoints at the entrance remained non-functional. Ansar members were posted at the gate.
On Saturday evening, the NBR Reform Unity Council announced a two-day program. For Sunday and Monday, there will be a full-day strike from 9am to 5pm in all income tax, customs, and VAT offices—except for export services and international passenger customs operations.
On May 12, the government issued an ordinance dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, creating two new departments: the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Administration Division. Since then, NBR employees have been protesting.
The council has four main demands Immediate cancellation of the issued ordinance, Immediate removal of the current NBR chairman, Public release of the Revenue Reform Advisory Committee’s recommendations, Inclusive revenue reform based on feedback from business groups, civil society, political leaders, and other stakeholders.