Dhaka: Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan announced today that the advisory committee on trade and commerce, industry, ports, and revenue collection will recommend an amendment to the ordinance issued to split the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two separate entities. The advisor revealed that income tax and customs-VAT officials have consented to the division, indicating clever tactics were employed in formulating the ordinance. He shared these insights during a press conference organized by the advisory committee at the Secretariat this morning.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fouzul Kabir Khan heads the advisory committee, which was established on June 29 and includes five advisers. Among those present at the press conference were Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwan Hasan and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan. The energy adviser stated that a policy will be recommended for the appointment of secretaries and senior officials to the two divisions created by dividing the NBR, focusing on selecting qualified officials for these roles. However, he noted that the demand from NBR officials to appoint only from their two cadres (customs and income tax) would not be entertained, ensuring that administration cadres do not dominate the process.
Fouzul Kabir Khan disclosed that the committee conducted five meetings with the Association of Income Tax and Customs-VAT Officers, the NBR, the National Board of Revenue Reform Commission, and business representatives. The committee plans to inspect income tax and customs-VAT activities at the field level to evaluate revenue collection before and after the movement by NBR officials. He highlighted that while income tax and customs-VAT officials agreed to the division of the NBR, they insisted on appointing only their cadres to the new divisions. Business representatives, on the other hand, expressed significant economic and commercial losses due to the NBR officials’ movement and reported ongoing harassment by customs-VAT officials. They have fully endorsed the government’s reform program.
The energy adviser revealed that the committee’s analysis attributed the unrest within the NBR to conflicts between the BCS administration cadre and other cadres. He questioned the timing of the conflict, which coincided with the ordinance to divide the NBR, suggesting flaws in the ordinance. The ordinance, he noted, ambiguously stated qualification criteria for secretaries, requiring correction to eliminate such uncertainties.
Fouzul Kabir Khan indicated that the committee will propose corrections to the ordinance flaws, emphasizing there would be no continuation of the NBR. The committee believes forming a new department solely with officials from the income tax and customs-VAT cadres would be unacceptable, as would the dominance of administration cadres. A policy recommendation outlining the appointment of secretaries and senior officials will be forthcoming.
He mentioned reports of NBR officials continuing to progress slowly, which has harmed the economy and disrupted revenue collection. Referring to a national daily report, he cited the creation of a WhatsApp group by agitators to foster an anti-government stance. The Finance Division is expected to scrutinize this report.
Fauzul Kabir Khan emphasized that NBR officials need to regain governmental trust by enhancing revenue collection and reducing container congestion. Businessmen have questioned the delayed governmental response to the situation, to which he noted the government’s preference for a democratic approach, demonstrating considerable patience.
Addressing a World Bank report suggesting a potential recession in Bangladesh due to internal political instability and global factors, the energy adviser dismissed it as based on outdated information, asserting that Bangladesh has moved past those challenges.