‘March to NBR’ begins, security tightened

Agitating officers and employees launched the 'March to NBR' to demand the ouster of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman and reforms in the revenue sector with multi-party involvement. 

Since Saturday morning, officials from across the country, including NBR’s Dhaka office, have gathered outside the NBR building in the capital.

Following the incident, BGB, police, RAB, and Coast Guard have sealed the NBR’s main gate and deployed inside, with heightened security around the building. 

Protesters accuse the NBR chairman of evading solutions, prompting a nationwide customs office shutdown starting Saturday.

On Friday, the Finance Ministry issued a press release stating that a Thursday meeting addressed the NBR deadlock. Three decisions were made: withdraw the NBR Reform Unity Council’s programs, review officials’ transfer orders, and hold tripartite talks on Tuesday. 

The government urged officials to halt the shutdown and 'March to NBR' programmes in the interest of national trade and commerce, but the protesters have defied these instructions.

On Thursday, NBR Reform Unity Council leaders announced at a press conference that customs officials nationwide would join the 'March to NBR' in Dhaka. 

The protests began from a May 12 ordinance dissolving the NBR and Internal Resources Department to create two new departments: Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. 

Officers and employees, under the NBR Reform Unity Council, are holding various programs to protest the decision.