In the wake of the government’s fall and the subsequent changes in various institutions, employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have staged a protest at the central bank, demanding changes in leadership.
The protesters have called for the removal of the current Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Munim and First Secretary (Tax Administration) Md. Shahiduzzaman, among other ‘opportunistic officials’ at various levels.
The NBR employees have put forward nine demands, including the cessation of administrative cadre appointments. On Wednesday, they demonstrated in front of the NBR Chairman’s office. The protest included board-level members as well as officials from the customs, VAT, and income tax divisions.
First Secretary of Customs, Md. Neyamul Islam, said, “He (the NBR Chairman) has been running the show with a divide-and-rule strategy.”
He added that the NBR Chairman had established a reign of terror by bringing some of his close associates from the administration into high-ranking positions like First Secretary and Second Secretary. The Chairman had also allegedly received benefits from the previous government by filing false cases against interim government leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, Islam claimed.
During the protest, other officials and employees shared similar sentiments and burned posters bearing the NBR Chairman’s image.
The posters read: "Despot Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Munim, who harasses Dr. Muhammad Yunus with successive lawsuits."
In a press release on Wednesday, NBR employees presented nine demands to the President, including the Chairman’s dismissal.
The demands are as follows:
1. No officials should be appointed to the National Revenue Board from the administrative cadre on deputation.
2. Immediate removal of the current Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Munim, known for his autocratic rule, and appointment of a new Chairman from the income tax/customs, excise, and VAT cadre.
3. Immediate removal of the Chairman’s close associate and preferred First Secretary (Tax Administration) Md. Shahiduzzaman, and appointment of an official from the tax cadre.
4. Halt the practice of transfers every two years and make transfers consistent with the Income Tax Act of 2023 and in the interest of tax collection.
5. Immediately stop illegal appointments and avoid outsourcing methods for recruitment.
6. All appointments should be made according to the seniority rules and laws established for employees.
7. Promotion should be provided for all vacant positions from 10th to 20th grade in the income tax division, and all positions should be eligible for promotion without any blocks.
8. Decisions affecting employees should be made in consultation with their respective associations; otherwise, such decisions will not be accepted.
9. Finally, decisions on all matters related to the income tax division should be made solely by the officials and employees of the income tax department.
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