NBR protests resume, Finance Advisor calls for discussion with representatives
As the protests under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council have resumed, Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has called for a discussion with representatives of BCS (Tax) and BCS (Customs and Excise) cadres on Thursday (June 26) afternoon. The Finance Ministry gave this information in a notification on Wednesday (June 25).
It said that for a long time, the country’s civil society, business organizations, economists and development partners have been suggesting separating revenue policy and its implementation to increase the efficiency of revenue activities. The current interim government considered the matter seriously and formed an advisory committee on National Board of Revenue reform on October 9 last year. After reviewing the report submitted by the committee, the Advisory Council gave in-principle approval on January 16 to separate the two activities – formulating revenue policy and collecting revenue through implementing the formulated policy.
Then, the BCS (Customs and Excise) and BCS (Tax) cadre officials, under the supervision of their association leaders, drafted the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025, after discussing with other participants and submitting it to the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue in the first week of March 2025. The draft of the ordinance was issued in a revised form on May 12 with the approval of the President.
After the issuance of the ordinance, the officers and employees of the National Board of Revenue started a movement demanding the repeal of the ordinance. In this situation, a long meeting was held on May 20 under the chairmanship of the Financial Advisor in the presence of 13 representatives of the NBR Reform Unity Council. In the meeting, it was decided that the necessary amendments to the ordinance would be implemented after detailed discussions with all the participants, including the Revenue Reform Committee.
Nevertheless, as the movement continued, a press release from the Financial Advisor’s office was issued on May 25 stating that the necessary amendments to the ordinance would be brought by July 31. The protesters then withdrew their program. However, if the movement starts again from June 22, 2025 under the banner of NBR Reform Unity Council, the Financial Advisor has called for discussions with representatives of BCS (Tax) and BCS (Customs and Excise) cadres at 5 pm on June 26.
The government hopes that through these discussions, all misunderstandings will be cleared, everyone will reach a consensus and it will be possible to bring the necessary amendments to the ordinance by July 31. The Financial Advisor is requesting all the officers and employees of the National Board of Revenue to stay in their respective places and focus on revenue collection in the last working days of the fiscal year.
